Specificity of early letter marks in russi an notation of “evangilical stiherons” byzantine emperor Leo VI

Authors

  • Anzhela Grigor’evna KHACHAYANTS Author

Abstract

The article examines early letter marks in neume-notation (before-reforms
of Alexandr Mezenets) of the “Evangelical sticherons” of Emperor Leo VI in the
church-singing manuscripts of the 1-st half of the 17th century. Specific feature of
these letter marks in some manuscripts is their unregular affixing and presence
of unusual points with unknown function. Unlike «mezenets» letter marks, which
indicated the exact pitch, early letter marks showed area of tune, rising and lowering
of the tune, and they indicated techniques of performance: rhythm, expression,
volume, etc. These details were of importance for the performance of melismatic
melody of 11“Evangelical sticherons”. Also these marks characterize the state of
music theory at the time.

Author Biography

  • Anzhela Grigor’evna KHACHAYANTS

    Cand. Sc. Art History, Associate
    Professore of the Studies Departmen Music History Saratov State Conservatory of
    L. V. Sobinov. Research interests: Old Russian church singing, manuscripts, singing
    traditions of the Old Believers. She is author of scientific articles concerning the above
    mentioned issues.

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2014)

Section

Art History