I was just introduced to it tonight and I didn't realize how complicated Byzantine music is. Russian music was no problem for me to learn, I pretty much had it, along with all the tones, down pat within months. This Greek stuff is real intense, but very addictive. I'm sure it will take me a while to get any of it because I just started learning.
The Latin Gregorian Chant was much easier than the Byzantine notation.
__________________ Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!
O Mary, Full of Grace;
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
For thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.
+ + + + +
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory Forever!
O Giver of Life, Glory to Thee!
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I'm attending a class of Byzantine music and, at least for me, it's not easy at all.
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Asemănāndu-te obiceiurilor rāvnitorului Ilie şi urmānd Botezătorului pe drepte cărări, Părinte Antonie, te-ai făcut locuitor pustiului şi ai īntărit lumea cu rugăciunile tale. Pentru aceasta, roagă-te lui Hristos Dumnezeu, să māntuiască sufletele noastre.
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There is a lot to learn but once you have got the basics down it is pretty straightforward. Eventually you begin to read the byzantine notation in the same way we read text. Just as we read whole words and phrases instead of putting words together letter by letter, so too do you recognise note patterns and phrases once you become more experienced. It does take lots of practice though.
I can read Byzantine notation. It was difficult to learn at first but I got it pretty quickly and I can actually sing a chanting piece from Byzantine notation rather than Western since I never really learned how to read Western and that is usually more complicated for me where Byzantine is easier.
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Yes, it is like learning and reading a second language although certainly more complex because you must recognize musical patterns and rests.
While western notation has different scales, major and minor, you can always find "do." However, with Byzantine notation, if you lose your place it is difficult to find the proper note unless you are singing with another who is not lost, i.e., you cannot just begin at a certain point without beginning all over again. You can key it, but then you are relying on Western notation.
__________________ Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!
O Mary, Full of Grace;
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
For thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.
+ + + + +
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory Forever!
O Giver of Life, Glory to Thee!
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Last edited by MariaRegina; 5th November 2009 at 12:01 PM.
I still can't figure out the ison. I hear it and understand, but when I try to sing it, I totally miss. I know there is no particular order, but I at least need some explanation. We're being taught by a famous chanter (Dorothea knows her, too) and she is making us sing Vespers with the Byzantine notation because the only way to learn it is to start doing it. Luckily not many people come on Saturdays
A class in music theory would help. I took one at my local community college.
There is also a movable or dynamic ison. Otherwise, older hymns called for a static ison.
Many times, the psalti will intone the ison before he begins.
__________________ Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!
O Mary, Full of Grace;
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
For thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.
+ + + + +
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory Forever!
O Giver of Life, Glory to Thee!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It's been 10 years, but I was a piano major and was buried in music theory. I just can't figure it out out for some reason, there seems to be no rhyme or reason, other than when the note falls. I'm sure it will eventually click
Linear Mode
