St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - Press Releases Alexander Lingas delivers 21st Schmemann Lecture January 30, 2004

Crestwood, NY — On Friday evening, January 30, 2004, St Vladimir's Seminary held its twenty-first annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture. The guest speaker was Prof. Alexander Lingas, a noted Byzantine and historical musicologist.

In his talk entitled, "Culture, History, and the Future of Orthodox Liturgical Music in America," Dr Lingas conveyed an evenhanded perspective on the dilemma of Orthodox liturgical music in America. He noted at the outset that music functions not only as a primary means of the inculturation of church life, but also as a sign that this inculturation has taken place. Yet the situation in America today is one of fragmentation, in which musical styles are developed and multiplied according to a myriad of different tastes and entertainment demands. This fragmentation hinders the development of a unique, culturally influenced style of liturgical music that is distinctly American. While Dr Lingas did not focus upon solutions to this quandary, he provided his listeners with the kind of background information and insight from history and contemporary practice that would best serve to inform the search for ways forward.

Near the end of his lecture, he cited two perspectives that ought to be brought into dialogue: on the one hand, it has been suggested that church music is and should remain utterly distinct from secular music. On the other hand, a theme underlying the life's work of Fr Alexander Schmemann is precisely the breaking down of barriers between the spiritual and the secular.

The lecture was accompanied by visual aids as well as by striking musical examples, sung by Dr Lingas and a member of his choral group, Capella Romana. In the discussion that followed, one commentator said that the lecture was a most welcome example of looking into the true meaning of church music, instead of treating it as an archeological discipline.

This lecture series, held at the seminary each year in January, honors Fr Alexander Schmemann, renowned theologian who served as dean of St Vladimir's from 1962 until his death in 1983. These events provide an opportunity to hear from pre-eminent speakers about pertinent issues within the life of the Church.