Finally, after many years, there's one place where all my music interests come under one roof.
I am an Orthodox Christian, a member of the Deanery UK (established under Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, today part of Thyateira GB), and I have strong ties with the Antiochian and Macedonian churches in London, as well as the St John the Baptist Monastery in Essex.
I began compiling church services in 2017 and I actively started composing music for an Antiochian Orthodox community in East London, UK. I don’t write the lyrics — instead, I use the rich heritage of Orthodox Christian liturgical texts and compose melodies to be used in services.
I write the music in standard notation and pointed notation (a method inherited from Fr. Michael Fortunato).
I also publish simplified traditional Obikhod style music resources in English.
With the blessing of my spiritual father, and approval of several priests and monk from the Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex, the original melodies for Liturgical use are published on Bandcamp, free of charge. The audio recordings serve as guides, the notations are included as 'bonus material'.
The main way to follow these developments is to 'follow' me on Bandcamp, or subscribe to my newsletter.
You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
Why and How
As Orthodoxy has gradually entered the UK and other English-speaking countries, it has brought with it the profound and prayerful melodies of Russia and Greece. The liturgical texts are gradually being translated into English, and these translations are then fitted to the original music.
In many cases, this works beautifully and sounds natural. In other cases, it does not.
My aim is to help fill this gap — creating English Orthodox worship music that follows the natural rhythm and flow of the language.
I compose in a simple style: melody and ison (bass), occasionally with two melodies in harmony. The chants are aimed primarily at small Orthodox parishes in the English-speaking world — even one or two singers can perform them effectively.
The style draws from Orthodox and British musical heritage—Znamenny and Byzantine traditions inform the harmonic language and theological posture; English choral and folk traditions shape the melodic architecture—keeping lines clear and singable, avoiding excessive ornamentation, anchoring everything to the rhythm of English speech.
Digital Pointed Notation Basics - a guide to the system as started by Fr Michael Fortunato, of blessed memory.