About Trinity-Sergius Monas tery mas ters’ activity in the field of old Russ ian chanting art (on exam ple of Login Shishelov’s creative work)

Abstract

Оn the basis of documentary sources the authors reveal peculiarities of the monastic
masters’ activity in the field of chanting art of XVI—XVII centuries. They
pay attention to the general organization of monastic choirs, issues of payment and
maintenance of their activity and musical creativity of choristers. The central theme
of the study is the chanting masters of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery’s activity.
Monastery was the powerful center of culture, closely associated with Moscow.
For decades the heads of the monastery choir were from the capital. Patriarchs
and tsars often came here with their choirs who took part in the worship service
together with the monastery choir. The authors came to conclusion that the general
church chanting traditions of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery were formed exactly
like the Moscow ones. Monastic choristers who often came from different regions
of the country while mastering the local traditions of Monastery brought in a new
musical intonation material (especially in melodic formulas, lines of chants) which
was adopted by them earlier. So special monastic chants were appeared “inside”
the school of monastery. Having been included in the chant books they started their
being in the professional musical sphere. Originality of Trinity monks’ musical
activity is investigated on the example of outstanding “raspevshik” (composer)
and choir director Login Shishelov’ creative works (died in 1624). The presented
review of the monastic chanters activity shows that they were often true masters
in the sphere of music art being the most educated part of the monastics.