HElpful links

Resources for byzantine chant in English are scattered all over the web. This page attempts to begin bringing those resources together.

Background Knowledge

• The History of Byzantine Chant (by Dimitri E. Conomos)

This covers the Pre, Late, and Post Byzantine eras, the reforms of Chrysanthos, the 19th century to present, notation, psalmody and hymnody.

• A Brief Overview of the Psaltic Art (by Grammenos Karanos, PhD)

This covers the characteristics of the Psaltic Art as well as many important composers and chanters beginning with St. Romanos the Melodist.

• Byzantine Vs. Western Notation (from St. Anthony's Monastery)

This explains the strengths of each type of notation and why they are appropriate to their own form of music.

• Concerning Adaptation (from St. Anthony's Monastery)

This surveys 20 adaptations into different language from the original Greek of the hymn "Lord I have Cried" and notes the advantages and disadvantages of each composition (namely, how composers balance the original melody, translations, and musical formulae).

• The Transcription, Adaptation and Composition of Traditional Byzantine Chant in the English Language (by John Michael Boyer)

Instead of surveying numerous adaptations of Greek hymnography into English, the author examines the work of two composers more in depth (Fr. Seraphim Dedes and Father Ephraim of St. Anthony's Monastery).

• Introduction to the New Method of Byzantine Chant Notation (English translation of Chourmouzios' revision of Chrysanthos' Eisagoge)

An important historical text

• Great Theory of Music  (by Chrysanthos of Madytos, translated by Katy Romanou)

A PDF of another important historical book shared on academia.edu by the translator.  

• Analogion 

A website with extensive resources in Greek and English that includes an online forum called Psaltologion.  

Learning Resources

• Teach Yourself Byzantine Notation: exercises with recordings, by Ioannis Margaziotis in Greek
• Byzantine Notation Exercises, adapted into English from those of John D. Margazioti (from Byzantinechant.org)

Adults can use either of these manuals to learn most of the symbols (intervals and rhythms) to read a hymn in Byzantine notation.  

• Tones Chart (taken from Dr. Nick Giannoukakis)

This chart shows the relationship between modes, styles (heirmologic, sticheraric, papadic), and scales. 

• Ison Chart (taken from Dr. Nick Giannoukakis)

This chart shows what pitch the ison should be on according to where the melody is for each of the modes. 

• Table of Scales and Fthora (from byzantinechant.org)

This chart is useful to those that can read interval and rhythm symbols and are ready get past the beginning level of reading notation.  It is hard to make sense of without a teacher explaining what it means.  ​

• The Intonations of the Eight Modes (from St. Anthony's Monastery)

​These are the intonations (or apichimata) used in Byzantine Beginnings

• ASBM Byzantine Music: Theory & Practice Guide (Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music)

This book has exercises similar to the Margaziotis Chant manual and includes tables of scales and fthora in the back as well as apichimata.

• Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music (by Basilios Psilakos  )

​A textbook covering the theory of byzantine chant in English (one of the first). 

Byzantine Notation Music Sources 

• St. Anthony's Monastery Divine Music Project

Music for Vespers, Matins, Doxologies, the Divine Liturgy of St John, St Basil and St. James, the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, the Mysteries (sacraments), the Menaion, the Triodion and the Pentyecostarion; western notation available as well.  Available to download and print free of charge

• St. Gregory Palamas Greek Orthodox Monastery

Music for Matins, the Doxologies, Automela, Katavasia, Holy Week; some music in western notation as well.  Price ranges from $12-$42.

• Byzantinechant.org (St. George Cathedral, Pittsburgh, Pa)

A variety of music that fills in some gaps from the above 2 resources, especially for Holy Week (using the Antiochian text).  Free to download and print free of charge.

• EnglishMenaion.com  (by Gabriel Cremeens)

Many Doxasticons and other hymns not available at the first 2 resources.  Available to download and print free of charge
​

Service Rubrics and Texts

• The Typicon (St. Raphael Clergy Brotherhood, The Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America-Antiochian)

The typicon explains how the divine services should be done (what hymns should be chanted based on the day and service)

• Online Liturgical Guide (Antiochian Archdiocese)

This liturgical guide includes PDFs of the full service text or the basic rubrics for Sunday vespers, matins and liturgy as well as major feast days (in English).

• AGES Digital Chant Stand (Fr. Seraphim Dedes, Greek Archdiocese)

This liturgical guide includes PDFs of the full service text in English, Greek, or English and Greek side by side.  It has the text for the services for 2-4 days each week.

Composition Resources

•  Byzantine Music Formulae (from St. Anthony's Monastery)

Almost 1000 pages of formulae compiled from hymns in Greek.  They are categorized by the type of phrase (beginning, medial...) and show stressed and unstressed syllables.  To be used for composition.

• 106 Rules of Byzantine Music Orthography (from St. Anthony's Monatery)

Useful for composition and helpful to develop more advanced reading skills

Certification

• Certificate in Byzantine Music (Hellenic College Holy Cross)