[secede] -- Byzantine chant
Most people are acquainted with the Western church’s Gregorian chant. Fewer are familiar with the East’s chanting tradition. Attending an Orthodox service is an excellent introduction, but, as always, studying the original scores gives a more complete perspective. The Greek Anastasimatarion parallels the Latin Liber Usualis as the main book of chant for the Eastern church. This website contains a free pdf download of the entire work. Hard copies can be found on eBay.
Byzantine notation bears no resemblance to its Western cousin. The Greek is also exotic.
Since notation shapes thought, learning to read this music in its original orthography is essential to absorbing the Orthodox philosophy. This pdf provides a basic introduction, while this cheat sheet can be used to review.
Gregorian chant is built from one, two, or three note cells. Byzantine chant, in contrast, is structured according to “tones”. There are eight tones, or melodic patterns, that form the basis of Byzantine music. Many chants also include an ison, or drone, below the main chant melody. Observing how these subtleties are written down gives valuable insight into Orthodox spirituality.