Ooooh, Orthodox music. Yum. We do a couple of Orthodox pieces every year at the Easter Vigil. Wonderful, especially if you have a good bass section (which we do, got some boomin' voices back there). We're Episcopalians, but our rector is nuts about Greece and Russia and the Orthodox branches of the faith. Our parish hosts a small Greek Orthodox congregation one Saturday a month.

None of which is vague related to the topic. So, I submit the following Chorister's Confession for Alex and all of the rest of us who sing in church choirs:

A Choristers' Confession:

Almighty and most merciful conductor, we have erred and strayed from thy beat like lost sheep.

We have followed too much the intonations and tempi of our own hearts.

We have offended against thy dynamic markings.

We have left unsung those notes which we ought to have sung, and sung those notes which we ought not to have sung, and there is no support in us.

But thou, O Conductor, have mercy upon us feeble singers.

Succor the chorally challenged;

Restore thou them that need sectionals;

Spare thou them that have pencils.

Pardon our mistakes and have faith that hereafter we will follow thy directions

And sing in perfect harmony.

To the honour and glory of thy name.