hagiasophia

Teleutaion

John Anthony Newcomb — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 17:52:56 +0000

Teleutaion

Teleutaion, meaning “last” because it identifies the ultimate psalm sung for cathedral vespers on Pentecost, Ps.18(19) (Florence, Laurenziana MS Gr. Ashburnhamensis 64, fols. 258–264v, dated to 1289); musical edition by Ioannis Arvanitis.

teleutaion.mp3

Koinōnikon - Dry (Anechoic)

John Anthony Newcomb — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:53:58 +0000

Koinōnikon - Dry (Anechoic)

Koinōnikon or Communion verse, Ps.142(143):10 (Grottaferrata, MS. Gr. Γ γ 1, fol. 195v and Γ γ 7, fols. 67v-68r, dated to the 13th century) for the cathedral celebration of Pentecost; musical edition by Ioannis Arvanitis. This segment of the recording bears minimal room acoustics; it is produced by placing the microphones close to the mouths of the singers and selecting a non-reverberant interior (The Stage at CCRMA).

koinonikon-dry-edited-new.mp3

Koinōnikon - Auralized from the Ambo

John Anthony Newcomb — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Koinōnikon - Auralized from the Ambo

The following segment of the Koinōnikon auralized with Hagia Sophia’s acoustic signature from a position close to the Byzantine ambo where the elite choir of psaltai would have been.

koinonikon-ambo-edited.mp3

Koinōnikon - Auralized from the Nave

John Anthony Newcomb — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Koinōnikon - Auralized from the Nave

The remaining melody auralized with Hagia Sophia’s acoustic signature from a position setback in the nave.

koinonikon-nave-edited.mp3

Kekragarion Psalm

John Anthony Newcomb — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:40:09 +0000

Kekragarion Psalm

Kekragarion or Ps.140 (141), melody reconstructed on the basis of two manuscripts (Athens, National Library, MS. Gr. 2061, dated to 1410-1425, and Athens, Nat. Library, MS Gr. 2062, dated to 1355-1385); musical edition by Ioannis Arvanitis; performed by the Byzantine Greek Choir directed by Lycourgos Angelopoulos and the Chapel Choir of St. Peter's College, directed by Charles Janz for the special service of the Constantinopolitan Cathedral Vespers celebrated in the Chapel of St. Peter's College, Oxford, May 26, 2001. For the Oxford performance, texts and music edited by Alexander Lingas and Ioannis Arvanitis. Kekragion identifies the fixed Psalm sung at cathedral vespers featuring a special refrain appended for Paschal Vespers, the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14), and for other festal Saturday and Sunday services.

kekragarion.mp3

Cheroubikon

John Anthony Newcomb — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 17:54:36 +0000

Cheroubikon

Cheroubikon or chant of the cheroubim sung at the procession with the offertory gifts at the beginning of the Byzantine Eucharist Liturgy. This version is attributed to Gregorios Protopsaltes (1778-1821) and sung by the Greek Choir of Lycourgos Angelopoulos in the Refectory of Fontevraud's monastery, The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, The Greek Byzantine Choir, dir. Lycourgos Angelopoulos (Paris: Opus 111, 1993), OPS 30-78. The audio was processed so as to transform the recorded acoustics of Fontevraud's monastery into an approximation of Hagia Sophia’s reverberation.

cheroubikon.mp3

Prokeimenon

John Anthony Newcomb — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 21:59:17 +0000

Prokeimenon

Prokeimenon is a short psalmic verse prefacing the readings from the Epistle in the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist rite), or introducing the Old Testament readings at hesperinos (vespers) or the New Testament at orthros (laudes). This particular example was sung for the Feast of St. Basil on January 1. The verses of Ps. 48(49): 1–4 are re-arranged in a new order, different from the Psalter. The melody reconstructed on the basis of three manuscripts (Athens, National Library, MS. Gr. 2061, dated to 1410-1425; Athens, Nat. Library, MS Gr. 2062, dated to 1355-1385; and Patmos, MS Gr. 221, dated to 1162–1179).

prokeimenon.mp3