Byzantine chant (Cyprus)

Описание: Byzantine chant (Cyprus) - An element proposed for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

As a living art, persevering for more than 2000 years, Byzantine chant is considered to be a significant cultural tradition and a comprehensive music system. Highlighting and enhancing musically the liturgical texts of the Orthodox Church, it is inextricably linked to the spiritual life and religious worship. It is part of the common ecclesiastical musical traditions that developed in the geographical area of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire (i.e. the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as present day Orthodox Churches of Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Arabic-speaking Orthodox Churches). It exemplifies the Byzantine and post-Byzant0ine spirit and culture, with influences from ancient Greek, Syrian and Jewish musical traditions.

This vocal art places its main focus in the rendering of the liturgical or ecclesiastical text. Every aspect of this tradition serves the dissemination and reception of the religious message. Arguably, Byzantine chant exists because of the word (“lexis”/ “logos”). Psaltic art has always been linked to the male voice, due to the specific gender roles during the service. However, women chanters are common in nunneries and participate to some extent in parishes and choirs of Byzantine music. The features of chanting constitute a powerful combination of Greek literature, rhythm and music, intertwined with particular techniques and morphological idioms, transmitted aurally and orally.

In addition to its performance and transmission in church, Byzantine chant is particularly flourishing due to the dedication of experts and non-experts, men, women and young people, who participate at various degrees and instances in its study, performance and dissemination: students of Byzantine music, members of choirs who perform Byzantine music, musicologists and theology professors and students as well as scholars in relevant fields (archaeologists, philologists, paleographers, anthropologists, etc.).