Notation Systems Used in Church Music of the Byzantine Tradition

This paper provides an introductory, yet comprehensive overview of the evolution of Byzantine music notation from its origins to date. The usage of and the meanings conveyed by the the attributes "Byzantine" and "in the Byzantine tradition" are explained on the basis of various references made to authors and works representing both Byzantine music in the world, as well as specifically in the Romanian countries, and interpreted in the perspective of continuity both of the musical tradition, and of the notation systems used.

International and Romanian research in Byzantine music identified a number of notation systems which are at first presented from the scientist's standpoint and subsequently illustrated on the basis of the contributions made by outstanding personalities known from documentary evidence. At the end of the article a number of musical examples are annexed in the form of excerpts from musical texts and transcriptions in the linear notation, most of which were done by the author himself.

Titus Moisescu