Jessica Suchy-Pilalis

Jessica R Suchy-Pilalis (1954-____)

Early life of Jessica R Suchy

Jessica R Suchy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1954. ["Suchy" is pronounced "Sukhy".]

Her father, Raymond W. Suchy (of Czech ancestry) was a physicist and her mother, Gregoria Karides Suchy (of Greek ancestry) was a composer of music. Both were professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Jessica has a sister, Mara.

Jessica Suchy grew up in Milwaukee, where she received the main elements of her education. Throughout her youth, participation in the life and worship in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee was a significant factor in her life and formation as an Orthodox Christian.

Jessica graduated from Shorewood High School in 1972 (Shorewood is a suburb of Milwaukee).

Higher education

After her secondary education, Jessica entered the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where she studied harp performance. She was taught there by Jeanne Henderson, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music. By “harp” is to be understood the modern concert harp with which we are mostly familiar. Mme Henderson was a teacher who made it possible for many persons to learn to play the harp who might not otherwise have been able to do so. Jessica also studied with Edward Druzinsky of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who was described as “a superb harp player and a consummate musician and teacher”. He was a modest, humble person who had an active sense of humour. Early in his life, he had studied with the eminent harpist Carlos Salzédo at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jessica graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1976.

From 1976-1980, Jessica studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, with Eileen Malone, who had herself been a student at both the Paris Conservatory ("Conservatoire de Paris") and the Juilliard School of Music. At the Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, Jessica was a student of Susann McDonald, also a graduate of the Paris Conservatory. There, Jessica specialised in harp and music theory.

It was while Jessica was in Rochester that a "calling" from the time of her childhood began to be fulfilled. Since her life always involved the worship in the Greek Orthodox Church, her heart had always responded to the melodies in a way that was different from all other music. She had no understanding of the reason, and at that time, she had been told that chanting in the Temple was only to be done by men. Now, under the leadership of the Priest Athanasios Demos at Holy Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Rochester, New York, she began to learn. He told her that the concept that chanting in the Temple was to be done only by men was merely a cultural custom, and that it had no theological mandate. Therefore, he invited her to join the chanters at the "psalterion" (chanters' stand, "Kliros"). As she commented in an interview, the men received her well, and they taught her what they knew. However, they had learnt everything by ear and rote, and they did not know any of the "why" of the methodology. As a result, she pursued further studies. She wanted to try to analyse the melodic rationale in the chanting. This then led her to the next step.

Jessica went on to study Byzantine music with Professor Savas I Savas at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological Seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts. He took her "under his wing", gave her private lessons, and put her through all 3 class levels of the chant at the same time, in a complete immersion.

After she had completed her studies at Holy Cross Seminary, Jessica began her doctoral studies at the University of Southern California (USC) at Los Angeles, California. At the same time, she chanted at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral (situated on Normandie Avenue in central Los Angeles, in Harvard Heights, near the Alvarado Terrace Historic District). Jessica found that the men would at first purposely chant louder than she did ; but when they learnt that she could read the neumes of Byzantine notation (they could not), they accepted her.

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles

In time, Jessica completed her doctoral studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Later, she went on to continue her education in the field of Byzantine music in Greece, where she studied primarily with Dimitrios Sourlantzis, with Nestoras Papalexiou, and with Eleftherios Georgiadis, who was "Archon Lampadarios" (the level of chanter with fewer than 25 years of service, just under the level of "protopsaltis) under Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou). She received diplomas with honours in Byzantine Music from two conservatories in Thessalonica, Greece : in 1984, the School of Byzantine Music of the Holy Metropolis of Thessalonica, Greece, and in 1985, the Macedonian Conservatory in Thessalonica. Her study was facilitated by Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis), and funded by a grant from the Taylor Foundation.

Thus, Jessica Suchy had a parallel learning experience both in harp performance (and all that is associated with the subject), and in the chant of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church (Byzantine Chant, and all that is related to the subject).

Performance

In 1985, Jessica also toured Greece as a solo harpist under the auspices of the USA Department of State.

In 1988, Jessica was named a Master Fellow by the Indiana Arts Commission / National Endowment for the Arts. She taught music theory and harp at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana ; and she taught music theory at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has performed both in the USA and abroad ; she has appeared at international music festivals, and she has played also for the Greek National Radio-Television. She has been listed on the artists' roster of the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour. She is featured on several compact disc releases.

Jessica in concert

Teaching ; research

In 1996, Jessica took a teaching position at the Crane School of Music in the State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam (in Potsdam, New York), where she later served as chair for the Department of Music Theory, History and Composition and chair of the Faculty Senate.

In the rank of Professor, Jessica teaches harp performance, music theory and an elective in Byzantine music. In addition, Jessica gives concerts as a soloist ; she plays in chamber ensembles. Dr. Suchy-Pilalis is also the Principal Harpist of the Orchestra of Northern New York, and she is the director of the award winning Crane Harp Ensemble that has published a CD.

2013 Crane Harp Ensemble

Jessica Suchy-Pilalis’ research in harp includes the study of historical harps.

Jessica is a specialist on the life and compositions of the English harpist Madame Delaval, about whom she wrote an article, ‘The Mysterious Madame Delaval : Part 1’ in “American Harp Journal”. As well, Jessica has edited the compositions of Madame Delaval for publication. She was a composer and performer far ahead of others for her time (during the French Revolution).

However, her research has practical application as well. Jessica has restored a single-action Érard harp specifically for performances of Madame Delaval’s compositions. She serves as Vice-President of the Historical Harp Society, and she is a member of the Editorial Board of the "American Harp Journal".

Jessica and students

Byzantine chant and melodies

As a result of her studies at the Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts (in Greater Boston), and also in other university cities, Jessica Suchy became a specialist in Byzantine music.

In 1984, she became what is thought to be the first officially titled and salaried female “psalti” (chanter, precentor, cantor) of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America. She served as the “protopsalti” (chief-chanter) at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. She holds certifications from both the State and the Church of Greece. In Greece, she is there a recognised “hieropsalti” (tonsured chanter).

Bishop Timotheos (Haloftis) of Detroit, Michigan, gave her the lesser ordination of "rasophoros" (honourific for the wearer of an ecclesiastical garment, not the monastic sort). Then Metropolitan Maximos (Aghiorgoussis) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tonsured her as an "anagnostis" (reader) / "psalti" (chanter). This occurred because in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Indianapolis, the head chanter suddenly left. As a result, and with the support of the rector of the parish (the Priest James Rousakis at that time), the parish offered her the position of "protopsalti" (first chanter). The bishop's actions reflected his clear blessing that she be officially in this position.

Jessica's research involves the modal analysis of Byzantine chant. Using the results of the analyses, she sets English translations of hymns in her capacity as a Byzantine melodist. As she reported in an interview :

 Our hymn texts are sublime religious poetry and our chant melodies are indeed beautiful in their own 
 right.  But beyond this, these hymns contain our theology and embed our prayers, and they do so in a way 
 that has become musically unique to Orthodoxy in that the connection of text and music is absolutely 
 intimate.  The accents that naturally occur in the words of the hymn determine the rhythmic and melodic 
 contours of the chant in any given mode.  One challenge that we have in this country is that we are 
 surrounded by a pervasive Western music mindset where a melody is a fixed entity and text must somehow be 
 fit into its contour and meter.  In Byzantine chant, melody is fluid and adaptable : it serves the text, 
 is shaped by the text and is the servant of the text.

In a 2017 interview 'Music in the Service of Prayer : Interview with Jessica Suchy-Pilalis' in the journal "The Wheel", on p. 24, Jessica commented :

 Hymnography is a discipline very much like iconography : one subjects oneself to fasting and prayer 
 in order to be a melodist, in order to create those melodies.  And just as an iconographer doesn't 
 decide, 'Today I'm going to paint the Virgin's robe in polka-dots', we don't innovate melodically.  
 We subject ourselves to the Tradition.  There is an iconographic style that has evolved to illustrate 
 our theology, and there is chant that has done the same.  We hear iconography referred to as 'theology 
 in colour'.  Chant is the same – our hymns are 'theology in sound'.

Jessica has travelled throughout the USA in order to teach Byzantine music and to serve as a guest "protopsalti" for many events through the years, including the Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress, various diocesan congresses, the Antiochian Archdiocese Sacred Music Institutes, various Church Music Institutes of the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, various Summer Institutes at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, as well as ad hoc seminars, lectures and workshops. In the midst of all her other activities, she has continued to work hard in order to make Byzantine chant more widely accessible in the USA.

At the Crane School of Music, Jessica teaches an upper-division elective on Byzantine music, which involves teaching about the necessary theological background to the words of the texts. She has expressed satisfaction that after many years, there are very many more chanters in the USA. These chanters are now musically literate (and especially with regard to the neumes). Nowadays, there are many more opportunities to learn how to chant correctly within many of the metropolises of the USA. Moreover, because of many more recordings, many more people are able to come into contact with this chant in the English language (besides Greek).

In 2006, Dr. Jessica Suchy was awarded the "St. Romanos the Melodist Medallion" (the highest honour bestowed to a musician in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese) by the "Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians". The citation was for “significant national contributions to church music”.

Potsdam, 1996

Immediately upon her arrival in the Potsdam area of northern New York State in 1996, Jessica began participating in Orthodox Christian worship in the region. She briefly attended the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Vasilios (Saint Basil) in Watertown, New York, and she also briefly attended the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Jessica helped with the chanting in both Temples. Twice a year, the Greek Orthodox priest in Watertown travels to Potsdam to serve the Divine Liturgy for the local Greek-speakers, and again she helped with the chanting for a long time.

However, not long after her arrival in Potsdam, she began chanting on a regular basis at the Ascension of Christ Greek Orthodox Church in Brockville, Ontario (which is nearer in distance from Potsdam than is Watertown or Ottawa). The Divine Liturgy is served in Brockville twice monthly until this day. Later, Jessica found and began to participate in the services offered at the Monastery of Saint Silouan the Athonite near Johnstown, Ontario. This allowed her to be a regular and frequent participant in services in the nearby region. In the monastery, she came to know the 2 nuns who lived and served there at that time, and she became the main chanter when she was present.

A "North Country" Mission

Because of Jessica's participation in worship in the Monastery of Saint Silouan the Athonite in Ontario, there came about the gathering of other Orthodox Christians from the same region of New York State at that monastery for the same reason. This led eventually to the establishment of a mission-station in Potsdam.

After 2012, the Divine Liturgy was offered in Potsdam on a Sunday, twice a month (served mostly by a priest from the Monastery of Saint Silouan in Johnstown, Ontario). Jessica’s ability in the restoration of instruments has found other applications : it seemed best to design an addition to her Potsdam home that would become the temporary chapel for what was then named the Orthodox Christian Mission of Potsdam. Preparation and adaptation of furniture for Orthodox Christian worship became necessary. (Most services are held in this chapel, but sometimes in larger spaces nearby.) This mission-station was blessed by Bishop Michael (Dahulich) of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA), and it is under his omophor. This mission-station provided a complement to the semi-annual Greek services.

As events progressed, the mission in Potsdam increased the frequency of services. In 2017, there were already weekly services, and in early 2018, the community was on the verge of having a resident priest and his family. This then came into being. Thus, the mission-station became listed as a church/parish rather than as a mission. It was then called Saint Olympia Orthodox Church. The patron saint is the Holy Deaconess Olympia of Constantinople (a long-time correspondent with Saint John Chrysostom). Soon after that, concrete possibilities arose regarding the acquisition of a permanent building.

Jessica as "psaltis" at the mission's chapel "psalterion' ('kliros')

Marriage, 2011

On 6 July, 2011, Jessica Suchy was married to Labros E Pilalis (hence her hyphenated surname). Labros is a licenced attorney who lives and works in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as a telecommunications analyst with the Office of Commissioner James H. Cawley, of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Their careers are lived out in different places, but they do manage to spend a great deal of time together.

Recent activity

In 2015, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America published the service "The Order of Service for the Lesser Sanctification of Water" along with the chant-setting that had been arranged by Jessica Suchy-Pilalis for this particular text. In the introduction, Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), the head of the archdiocese, included the following paragraph :

 The music itself was written by Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis, Professor of Music Theory and
 Harp at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam.  In addition 
 to advanced degrees in music from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Eastman School 
 of Music, and Indiana University, she holds two diplomas in Byzantine music from Greek 
 conservatories.  The chant was composed according to the authentic Byzantine melodic formulae 
 that Dr. Suchy-Pilalis has researched and catalogued for over 30 years, and we commend her 
 for this most impressive work.

In 2017, a "sabbatical year" for Jessica, she travelled somewhat for the purpose of research. In September, 2017, she and her husband travelled to France and to Greece for research. They went to the museums, archives and libraries in Paris, where there were examples of various sorts of harps to be seen and many documents to consult. They also went to Athens (particularly the Byzantine Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Hellenic Kosmos Cultural Centre), to Alexandroupolis, and as far as the Turkish border in Thrace during their time there. In the course of their travels, they visited places associated with the military interest of Labros.

On Tuesday, 31 October, 2017, at the final instalment of the 2017 Fall Lecture Series of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Dr. Suchy-Pilalis presented her lecture, “Basics of Liturgical Music”. Her talk concentrated primarily on the principles behind Orthodox liturgical music, with a particular emphasis on the chant tradition. Throughout her presentation, Dr. Suchy-Pilalis reminded those present about the cosmological dimension of liturgical music. She pointed out particularly that even before the Creation, the angels voicelessly praised God in song. In particular, Dr. Suchy-Pilalis drew attention to the textual focus of chant : good Orthodox chant focusses primarily on conveying a liturgical text, and it adapts the chant to present that text in the best way possible, rather than forcing the text to fit the melody as is sometimes found in Western settings. Therefore, Orthodox chant can be said to be “logo-centric”, since it places the listener’s comprehension of the meaning of the text first and foremost.

Jessica at Saint Tikhon's Theological Seminary, 2017

In 2018, the arrival in Potsdam of the Priest Peter Irfan and his wife Mary brought about many changes for the missionary community and for Jessica in particular. Because Jessica had always had such prominent responsibilities in the organisation and maintenance of the community, it now fell to her also to assist Father Peter to settle into his new responsibilities, and to help the parish administration adjust to this new situation.

In 2019, the indefatigable Jessica Suchy-Pilalis took part in the production of a CD in association with the Boston Byzantine Choir : "Twelve Days : Byzantine Chant from Christmas to Epiphany", recorded by the Boston Byzantine Choir, 2019. Since 1993, this choir has sought to make available the Orthodox Christian Faith through English language recordings of the hymns of the Orthodox Church using Byzantine Chant. Charles R Marge, the founder of the choir, wrote :

 The subsequent growth and acceptance of Byzantine chant in English spawned research into 
 the theological underpinnings of Byzantine musical compositions.  A new wave of high-quality 
 compositions in English has resulted from an approach that starts with the hymnological text 
 to inspire melodies that also adhere to the inherent formulaic rules of Byzantine chant.  
 It has been our privilege to work with Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis, a pioneer in this research, 
 as our composer-in-residence for this 25th Anniversary recording.  Nearly half of the 
 compositions on this recording are by her hand ; and we are blessed to be able to share them 
 as a part of our latest offering.

In January, 2020, Jessica Suchy-Pilalis recorded 3 podcasts with Ancient Faith Radio : 'Composer Spotlight : Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis Parts 1-3' in "A Sacrifice of Praise : the Living Tradition of Byzantine Music in America". Two interviewers have a conversation with the composer, cantor, and teacher Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis. During the conversation, Jessica reflects on 4 decades of her pioneering musical service and scholarship. Included are her recent compositions for the Boston Byzantine Choir's "Twelve Days [...]" recording for Christmastide.

In the spring of 2020, the arrival of the "Covid-19 virus" disrupted teaching possibilities and methods, as well as the university administration. As a consequence of the quarantining that became necessary and compulsory, classes had to be taught "online" by computer. Teaching harp performance (or any other instrumental performance) over a computer and without immediate, personal presence and participation is daunting to say the least. Because of the situation, Jessica joined her husband full-time in their home in Pennsylvania for the duration, and she taught from there. Meanwhile, the new parish in Potsdam (after a hiatus in services) eventually resumed its regular offering of services.

Bereavement, 2012

On 27 September, 2012, Jessica's father, Professor Raymond William Suchy, fell asleep in the Lord in Milwaukee. He was 99 years of age.

Professor Raymond William Suchy

Bereavement, 2018

On 3 October, 2018, Jessica's mother, Professor Gregoria Karides Suchy, fell asleep in the Lord in Milwaukee. She was 94 years of age.

Professor Gregoria Karides Suchy

Reflections

Besides her gifts of music and intellect, Jessica has also been given a high level of energy, understanding and perception. Moreover, her practical abilities go beyond restoration of harps. She has excellent ability in cooking, sewing, electrical work and construction. However, more important than all these gifts is the fact that she was raised and formed within the Greek Orthodox Church as a faithful Orthodox Christian.

Throughout her life, Jessica met and was nurtured spiritually by many others whose first priority was the worship of the Lord and service in Jesus Christ. It is this love for the Lord which motivated her to expose any interested student to the various national expressions of Orthodox worship (especially Greek, Antiochian and Russian). It has been this love for the Lord which has motivated her adapting Constantinopolitan chant to English-language service texts. It has been this love for the Lord which motivated her travels during many years both to a Greek Orthodox parish in a small city in Canada, and to a very small monastery, also in Canada. So many have been her travels that she might be described as having been on a very long pilgrimage.

It has been this love for the Lord which motivated her attempt to establish an Orthodox Christian Mission in a small university town in the far-northern frontier of New York State. It has been, fundamentally, this love for the Lord which has been motivating most aspects of her life in one or another manner, including her care for her ageing parents.

Jessica chanting

Works

Selected works of Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis include :

• Troparion of the Forefeast of the Holy Cross, 13 September

• Troparion of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross ; the Sunday of the Cross in Great Lent ; the Procession of the Holy Cross, 1 August

• Theotokos Hymn for the Leave-taking of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 21 September (Byzantine)

• Theotokos Hymn for the Leave-taking of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 21 September (Western version)

• Troparion of Saint Andrew the Apostle

• Troparion of Saint Anthony the Great

• Troparion of the Holy Apostles

• Standard Troparion of one apostle

• Troparion of the Holy Apostles on 30 June

• Troparion of the Holy Apostle Ananias (1 October)

• Troparion of Saint Andrew of Crete

• Troparion of Saint Avercius the Wonder-worker (22 October)

• Troparion of Saint Barnabas and Saint Bartholmew

• Troparion of the Holy Confessor Chariton

• Troparion of Saint George

• Troparion of the Venerable Ioannicius of Mount Olympus (4 November)

• Troparion of the Holy Prophet Joel (19 October)

• Troparion of Saint John the Theologian/Divine/Apostle/Evangelist

• Troparion of Saint John Chrysostom (13 November ; 27 January ; Pascha)

• Troparion of Saint Luke

• Troparion of Saint Mark

• Troparion of Saint Matthew

• Troparion of Saint James, Son of Alphaeus

• Troparion of Saint Thomas

• Troparion of Saint Nicholas

• Troparion of Saint Panteleimon

• Troparion of Saint John Climacus

• Troparion of the Deposition of the Precious Sash of the Theotokos

• of Saint Maximus the Confessor

• Troparion of Saint Paul of Thebes

• Troparion of Saint Philip the Apostle

• Troparions of various prophets

• Troparion of the Holy Prophet Zachariah (8 February)

• Troparion of the Seven Maccabees, Martyrs

• Troparion of Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem (11 March)

• Troparion of Saint Theodore the Branded (27 December)

• Troparion of Saint Theoctistus (3 September)

• Troparion of Saint Zosimus of Palestine (4 April)

• The Order of Service for the Lesser Sanctification of Water

• Kanon for Pascha

• Kanon for the Friday of the Akathistos Hymn

• Kanon by Saint Kosmas for the Nativity of Christ

• Great Doxology (Mode One)

• Divine Liturgy in "Varys Mode"

• Psalms 50, 22 and 33 (LXX)

• Doxastikon of Great Vespers for 15 August

• Doxastikon of Pascha

• Aposticha Doxastikon of Great Wednesday (Kassiani)

• 15th Antiphon of Great Friday

• Magalinarion (Hymn of the Theotokos) for Thomas Sunday (Sunday after Pascha)

• Typika Psalms (antiphons) (settings in various modes)

• Resurrection Apolytikia (Troparia) and Kontakia

• Byzantine Guide to the Tones : Mneumonic Verses

Jessica Suchy-Pilalis appears on some recordings as a performer. She has also written articles including “The Mysterious Madame Delaval (Part I)”, published in the “American Harp Journal”. Her hymn settings are included in recordings by “Archangel Voices” and the “Boston Byzantine Choir”. They have also been published by “Orthodox Music Press (Musica Russica)”. Many of her hymn settings are available for download from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Sacred Music Library.

• 2019 CD recording by the Boston Byzantine Choir

"Twelve Days : Byzantine Chant from Christmas to Epiphany", recorded by the Boston Byzantine Choir, 2019 (CD)

The "Ancient Faith Store" provides this summary :

 This CD is a collection of Byzantine Chant in English from every day of the Church’s 
 observance of the Twelve Days of Christmas spanning the Nativity to Theophany.  
 This 25th Anniversary CD of the Boston Byzantine Choir features 13 new compositions 
 by the hand of Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis written specifically for this recording.  
 For the celebration of both major feasts, it also includes the Polyeleos and the 
 Hierarchical Anti-trisagion, 'As Many of You As Were Baptised'.  The 80 minute CD 
 comes with liner notes and full hymn text in English.