The first step in learning to read Byzantine music is to become familiar with its solfege system. The names for the notes in this system in ascending order are: Nee, Pa, Vou, Ga, Dee, Ke, Zo, Nee. (This corresponds to the notes in Western music: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do.)

Noteison means repeat pitch of previous note

Noteoligon means up one

Noteapostrophos means down one

Blues

34429.24

Exercise 1(double-click to hear)

Blues

314059.1

Introduction(Double-click to hear)

Blues

18494.713

Ex. 2

Blues

31399.016

Ex. 3

Blues

31294.527

Ex. 4

Blues

31033.307

Ex. 5

Blues

17345.342

Comment

Blues

59559.61

Ex. 6

Notejoins two notes (a tie)

Noteup one (with a flutter)

Blues

33436.562

Comment

Blues

22569.756

Ex. 7

Blues

28525.588

Ex. 8

Blues

136252.36

Comment

Blues

38138.71

Ex. 9

Blues

70321.945

Ex. 10

Noteup one (not stressed)

Blues

31242.283

Ex. 11

Blues

22413.023

Ex. 12

Blues

71889.21

Ex. 13

Notetwo beats ( = a half note)

Explanations in parentheses are in the terminology of Western music.

Noteadds one beat to a note ( = a half note)

Blues

19069.398

Comment

Blues

32339.41

Ex. 14

Blues

29413.738

Ex. 15

Blues

23562.395

Comment

Blues

30928.818

Ex. 16

Blues

14158.407

Comment

Blues

22256.291

Ex. 17

Noteadds two beats to a note ( = a dotted half note)

Blues

10187.778

Comment

Blues

21786.094

Ex. 18

Blues

24084.836

Ex. 19

Blues

21577.117

Comment

Blues

21211.408

Ex. 20

Blues

40437.54

Ex. 21

Blues

14837.594

Comment

Blues

31607.992

Ex. 22

Noteadds three beats to a note ( = a whole note)

Blues

8202.464

Comment

Blues

28264.367

Ex. 23

Blues

33384.316

Ex. 24

Blues

30615.354

Ex. 25

Blues

16091.477

Comment

Blues

25808.893

Ex. 26

Blues

54700.723

Ex. 27

Noteone-beat rest ( = a quarter rest)

Notetwo-beat rest ( = a half rest)

Notethree-beat rest ( = a dotted half rest)

Noteup one (oligon), and then up one again (kentemata)

Notedown one, and then up one

Blues

4493.061

Comment

Blues

7993.484

Comment

Blues

13792.691

Ex. 28

Blues

19539.596

Ex. 29

Blues

9090.631

Comment

Blues

22726.488

Ex. 30

Blues

52192.91

Comment

Blues

28525.588

Ex. 31

Blues

80979.35

Comment

Blues

38539.37

Ex. 32 - parallagi

Blues

39832.543

Ex. 32 - melody

Notesame pitch, and then up one

Noteup one (kentemata), and then up one again (oligon)

Notedown one, then down one again

Blues

25443.184

Ex. 33 - melody

Blues

23510.15

Ex. 33 - parallagi

Blues

9456.347

Comment

Blues

51304.727

Ex. 34

Blues

7888.9937

Comment

Blues

32182.678

Ex. 35

Blues

33802.285

Comment

Blues

63007.85

Ex. 36

Notedown one, then down one for two beats

Notejump up two (a third)

Notejump up two (a third)This note is executed exactly like the previous note. It is used instead of the previous note when it is followed by a descending note for orthographical reasons.

Notejump down two (a third)

Blues

7000.8267

Comment

Blues

20793.455

Ex. 37

Blues

23248.93

Ex. 38

Blues

15778.006

Comment

Blues

43049.844

Ex. 39

Blues

27480.705

Comment

Blues

89651.555

Ex. 40

Blues

45035.195

Ex. 41

Notejump up two with a flutter

Blues

9090.631

Comment

Blues

47125.04

Ex. 42

Blues

28316.611

Ex. 43

Blues

13688.201

Comment

Blues

29727.203

Ex. 44 - Parallagi

Blues

29831.691

Ex. 44 - melody

Blues

44982.95

Ex. 44a - parallagi

Blues

44617.227

Ex. 44a - melody

Notejump up three (a fourth)

Notejump down three (a fourth)

Notejump up three with a flutter

Blues

60552.285

Comment

Blues

79412.086

Ex. 45

Blues

12068.603

Comment

Blues

41273.477

Ex. 46

Blues

14106.162

Comment

Blues

51356.973

Ex. 47 - Parallagi

Blues

47334.023

Ex. 47 - melody

Notejump up four (a fifth)

Notejump up four with a flutter

Notejump down four

Blues

53499.062

Comment

Blues

131811.11

Ex. 48

Blues

21002.432

Comment

Blues

74292.35

Ex. 49

Blues

42631.875

Ex. 50 - Parallagi

Blues

40124.062

Ex. 50 - melody

Blues

67866.56

Ex. 51 - Parallagi

Blues

10135.533

Comment

Blues

67187.414

Ex. 51 - melody

Blues

60865.76

Ex. 52 - Parallagi

Blues

58723.67

Ex. 52 - melody

Notejump up five (a sixth)

Notejump up five with a flutter

Notejump down five

Notejump up six (a seventh)

Notejump up six with a flutter

Notejump down six

Blues

18599.201

Comment

Blues

59925.332

Ex. 53

Blues

29048.03

Ex. 54 - Parallagi

Blues

29048.03

Ex. 54 - melody

Blues

18024.516

Comment

Blues

57313.027

Ex. 55

Notejump up seven (an octave)

Notejump up seven with a flutter

Notejump down seven (an octave)

Blues

14889.839

Comment

Blues

64366.25

Ex. 56

Blues

39653.848

Ex. 57 - Parallagi

Blues

36832.56

Ex. 57 - melody

Blues

70530.914

Ex. 58

NoteThe gorgon subtracts half a beat from the note it is above (or below) and half a beat from the previous note.

Blues

7993.484

Comment

Blues

28159.879

Ex. 59

Blues

17867.783

Ex. 60

Blues

33593.3

Comment

Blues

15098.819

Ex. 61

The following two exercises have "ellippes metron" which means that the first note begins on the upbeat instead of the downbeat.

NoteSee explanations of these combinations at the bottom of this page.

Blues

11337.171

Comment

Blues

12643.299

Ex. 62

Blues

5120.0024

Comment

Blues

30040.668

Ex. 63

Blues

5328.983

Comment

Blues

28316.611

Ex. 64

Blues

18337.98

Ex. 65

Blues

18703.69

Comment

Blues

32600.63

Comment

Blues

10605.739

Comment

Blues

29831.691

Ex. 66

Blues

26853.775

Ex. 67

Blues

4911.022

Comment

Blues

23771.371

Ex. 68

Blues

13635.956

Comment

Blues

15778.006

Ex. 69

Blues

16143.722

Ex. 70

Blues

15882.496

Ex. 71

Blues

35317.42

Comment

Blues

47543.008

Ex. 72

Blues

30406.377

Comment

Blues

30563.11

Ex. 73

Blues

32705.12

Comment

Blues

57208.535

Ex. 74 - Parallagi

Blues

56215.86

Ex. 74 - melody

Blues

18808.178

Comment

Blues

22465.268

Ex. 75

Blues

12016.357

Comment

Blues

22047.314

Ex. 76076.mp3

Blues

19278.375

Comment

Blues

28682.32

Ex. 77

Blues

29727.203

Comment

Blues

15307.8

Comment

Blues

30563.11

Ex. 78

NoteThe digorgon subtracts 2/3 of a beat from the note it is placed above, as well as from the previous and following notes.

Blues

62433.145

Comment

Blues

41691.445

Ex. 79

Blues

37511.758

Comment

Blues

16979.633

Comment

Blues

18546.957

Ex. 80

Blues

6844.0913

Comment

Blues

20271.014

Ex. 81

Blues

6844.0913

Comment

Blues

18076.76

Ex. 82

NoteThe trigorgon subtracts 3/4 of a beat from the note it is above, the previous note, and the following two notes.

Blues

11284.926

Comment

Blues

20375.502

Ex. 83

Blues

16457.191

Comment

Blues

8986.141

Comment

Blues

15203.31

Ex. 84

Blues

6321.64

Comment

Blues

19330.62

Ex. 85

Blues

25704.404

Ex. 86

Blues

27637.438

Comment

Blues

22047.314

Comment

Blues

23510.15

Ex. 87

Blues

11075.945

Comment

Blues

38974.65

Ex. 88

Blues

9247.366

Comment

Blues

43885.78

Ex. 89

Blues

7836.7485

Comment

Blues

10449.004

Comment

Blues

29988.424

Ex. 90

The argon acts as if it were a gorgon and a klasma.

The imiolion (or tri-imiargon) acts as if it were a gorgon and a dipli.

Blues

13165.75

Comment

Blues

14419.633

Comment

Blues

17867.783

Comment

Blues

45348.67

Ex. 91

Blues

15360.045

Comment

Blues

57574.258

Ex. 92

Blues

8515.935

Comment

Blues

50939.004

Ex. 93

The vareia emphasizes the note following it. Be aware that this emphasis is exaggerated in these recordings.

The psefiston emphasizes the note it is below. Be aware that this emphasis is exaggerated in these recordings.

The diargon acts as if it were a gorgon and a tripli.

Blues

43102.09

Ex. 94

Blues

12852.279

Comment

Blues

33332.07

Ex. 95

Blues

12016.357

Comment

Blues

25808.893

Ex. 96

Blues

27689.682

Ex. 97

Blues

50155.312

Ex. 98

When the petaste is placed beneath another symbol, the petaste becomes a qualitative symbol. In other words, it no longer means to ascend one step, but instead it adds a flutter to the note it modifies.

The omalon adds a quick flutter at the end of the note it is beneath.

Blues

19330.62

Comment

Blues

45662.15

Ex. 99

Blues

39288.125

Ex. 100

Blues

34481.484

Comment

Blues

8620.425

Comment

Blues

64105.02

Ex. 101

The antikenoma adds a quick flutter at the beginning of the note it is beneath.

But when the antikenoma has an apli beneath it, the flutter lasts much longer.

Blues

21368.14

Comment

Blues

33227.58

Ex. 102

Blues

70060.734

Comment

Blues

37668.496

Ex. 103

Blues

20375.502

Comment

Blues

46654.824

Ex. 104

Blues

21159.164

Comment

Blues

33384.316

Ex. 105

Diesis (sharp) on Ga

Sharp on Pa

Yphesis (flat) on Zo

The syndesmos joins two syllables having the same syllable. When the second of the two syllables joined is an ison, the effect of the syndesmos is to briefly raise the pitch before executing the ison.

Blues

21629.361

Comment

Blues

31085.55

Ex. 106

This note says that a student is now ready to do the examples from the Anastasimatarion in plagal fourth mode found on pages 38-40 of this book. Or one may simply continue with exercises 107-121 first.

Blues

34481.484

Ex. 107

Blues

47856.484

Ex. 108

This "korona" symbol gives one the freedom to hold a note as long as one desires. It is equivalent to the fermata in Western music.

Flat on Ke

Exercises that prepare students for diatonic modes with a tonic on Pa, i.e., first and plagal first mode.

Blues

35474.16

Ex. 109

Blues

12852.279

Comment

Blues

24920.742

Ex. 110

Blues

44617.227

Ex. 111

Blues

55066.445

Ex. 112

Blues

37250.527

Ex. 113

Exercises that prepare students for melodies with a tonic on Ke, i.e., herimologic (brief) plagal first mode.

Exercises that prepare students for melodies with a tonic on Vou, i.e., herimologic "legetos" fourth mode.

Blues

35839.883

Ex. 114

Blues

30928.818

Ex. 115

Blues

15516.78

Comment

Blues

15412.29

Ex. 114 (lower)

Blues

39497.11

Ex. 116

Blues

55432.168

Ex. 117

Blues

24868.498

Comment

Blues

37877.48

Ex.118

Blues

30928.818

Ex. 119

Blues

34376.992

Ex. 120

Blues

44251.504

Ex. 121

Exercises that prepare students for melodies with a tonic on Ga, i.e., the enharmonic third and grave modes.

Blues

27062.752

Comment

Blues

37511.758

parallagi

Blues

43938.027

melody

Blues

35892.13

parallagi

Blues

31033.307

melody

The following exercises are taken from the standard Anastasimatarion.

Plagal Fourth Mode

Blues

36153.36

parallagi

Blues

50625.527

parallagi

Blues

37250.527

parallagi

Blues

49214.883

parallagi

Blues

80143.48

parallagi

Blues

27114.996

melos

Blues

41691.445

melody

Blues

29048.03

melody

Blues

37877.48

melody

Blues

59507.363

melody

Blues

40698.77

parallagi

Blues

20897.943

parallagi

Blues

26906.02

parallagi

Blues

34272.5

parallagi

Blues

47334.023

parallagi

First Mode

Blues

35003.945

melody

Blues

17606.562

melody

Blues

24137.08

melody

Blues

29204.762

melody

Blues

44408.242

melody

Blues

29361.494

parallagi

Blues

32600.63

parallagi

Blues

34690.47

parallagi

Blues

43781.29

parallagi

Fourth Mode (Legetos)

Blues

23301.174

melody

Blues

28368.855

melody

Blues

29361.494

melody

Blues

38765.664

melody

Blues

33541.055

parallagi

Blues

29413.738

parallagi

Blues

50259.805

parallagi

Blues

45505.41

parallagi

Blues

37511.758

parallagi

Blues

26383.578

melody

Blues

25390.94

melody

Blues

41273.477

melody

Blues

40489.785

melody

Blues

29570.47

melody

Blues

70530.914

parallagi

Blues

45505.41

parallagi

Blues

22413.023

parallagi

Blues

29674.959

parallagi

Plagal First Mode

Blues

65985.84

melody

Blues

31033.307

melody

Blues

19226.13

melody

Blues

25547.672

melody

Blues

177686.61

parallagi

Blues

30719.842

parallagi

Blues

44355.996

parallagi

Blues

37407.266

parallagi

Third Mode

Blues

41482.46

melody

Blues

26331.334

melody

Blues

24972.986

melody

Blues

30719.842

melody

Blues

31503.504

parallagi

Blues

44930.703

parallagi

Blues

31085.55

parallagi

Blues

51095.742

parallagi

Blues

26383.578

melody

Blues

39915.08

melody

Blues

26017.87

melody

Blues

43206.582

melody

Blues

42997.598

parallagi

Blues

38190.957

parallagi

Blues

33906.777

parallagi

Blues

27532.95

parallagi

Grave Mode

Blues

38974.65

melody

Blues

23144.441

melody

Blues

28734.564

melody

Blues

24607.277

melody

Blues

177164.11

Concluding Comments

Blues

38922.402

parallagi

Blues

30354.133

parallagi

Blues

31816.969

parallagi

Congratulations! You have learned all the basics of Byzantine music notation. You are now ready to move on to the Anastasimatarion. This book may be ordered from: Holy Cross BookstoreTel: (800) 245-0599 Fax: (617) 850-1430hcbks@hchc.eduor from: Fortomas Ecclesiastikos OikosTel: +30 210-5240-437 http://www.fortomas.gr

Recordings of the entire Anastasimatarion on CDs or on a DVD in both parallagi and melody are available from: Lambros Katsoulis,Agiou Georgiou 78 Neo Psihico15451 Athens GreeceThey are also available in America from:St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery4784 N. St. Joseph's Way Florence, AZ 85252monastery@stanthonysmonastery.org

Blues

33332.07

melody

Blues

25808.893

melody

Blues

26853.775

melody