Byzantine Scales

Josiah14 · Jul 29, 2010

I'm learning byzantine chant, and I'm beginning, finally, to get a feel for where the tones are going. However, I'm having difficulty with the microtonality of the scales (as the notes are not all evenly spaced as in Western music).

I'd like to have a set of sound bites that I could use to train my ear and voice to hit the correct byzantine note (and not the western note). Does anybody know of any place that gives the true scales with a recording, and not just hte western approximation of the scales?

choirfiend · Jul 29, 2010

Nope, but I do know that traditionally the byzantine scale is in fact evenly spaced--it's just that there's 72 notes within an octave instead of 12. I honestly believe that ear training at this point cannot approximate the aural learning that happens in early childhood, and that such divisions are basically impossible to hear. Consider going to the Antiochian Village for their chant workshops?

Josiah14 · Jul 30, 2010

choirfiend said:
Nope, but I do know that traditionally the byzantine scale is in fact evenly spaced--it's just that there's 72 notes within an octave instead of 12. I honestly believe that ear training at this point cannot approximate the aural learning that happens in early childhood, and that such divisions are basically impossible to hear. Consider going to the Antiochian Village for their chant workshops?

I may just do that.

Whether or not I can get it perfect, I can still try. I know a few who applied themselves really well to music in college and came close to gaining perfect pitch. I don't expect as much, but I can still strive for my best.

choirfiend · Jul 30, 2010

Oh, definitely! Especially since a close approximation of the semi-tones would more than suffice in average performance.

Relative pitch is what it's called when one can often be close to a pitch or identify them nearly. Having good relative pitch is essential for any musician.

Plus, I dont think the Greeks follow the ANCIENT Byzantine styles. It's become much more diatonic over the years, I'm sure, though it may not sound like that to us.

Just don't think that singing through your nose constitutes good Byzantine tone

You may want to contact Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis. She's an expert in Byzantine Chant and she's a lovely person to take classes from.

rainbowbright · Jul 30, 2010

I love Byzantine chant, but I can't get my voice to sing 'in between the cracks' since I was trained in polyphonic music. I just kind of gave up and let the people who knew what they were doing sing it.

Josiah14 · Jul 30, 2010

rainbowbright said:
I love Byzantine chant, but I can't get my voice to sing 'in between the cracks' since I was trained in polyphonic music. I just kind of gave up and let the people who knew what they were doing sing it.

It takes a lot of practice and effort to 'break old habits'. However, its not a matter of polyphony or non-polyphony. Georgian chant and Corsican chant both do not utilize western scales.

Corsican example:
http://www.youtube.com/v/gQH62ld5HrA&hl=en_US&fs=1

Georgian example:
http://www.youtube.com/v/LK4v3mJ3GOU&hl=en_US&fs=1

Byzantine Scales

Josiah14

Make your sole goal acquisition of the Holy Spirit

More options

choirfiend

Senior Veteran

More options

Josiah14

Make your sole goal acquisition of the Holy Spirit

More options

choirfiend

Senior Veteran

More options

rainbowbright

Veteran

More options

Josiah14

Make your sole goal acquisition of the Holy Spirit

More options

Similar threads

Byzantine Scales

Josiah14

Make your sole goal acquisition of the Holy Spirit

choirfiend

Senior Veteran

Josiah14

Make your sole goal acquisition of the Holy Spirit

choirfiend

Senior Veteran

rainbowbright

Veteran

Josiah14

Make your sole goal acquisition of the Holy Spirit

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency