@TheosAthanato Howdy! You are correct that many of these hymns are being reproduced in western notation currently. Having come from a western theory background, there are many things that can be stated. For a more in depth discussion, look St. Anthony's Monastery's comparison of Western and Byzantine Notations (unfortunately, I can't post links here) and my introductory remarks from the 2009 Byzantine Workshop at BYZANTINECHANTdotOrg.
@TheosAthanatos In addition to more subtle/advanced differences, you just cannot represent the basic soft chromatic scale (used in tone 2 and tone plagal 2) accurately using the Western notation. The tetrachord is 8-14-8, which is 2/3 whole note, 7/6 whole note, and 2/3 whole note... the voice can perform such intervals, but the piano, which is what Western notation is bound to, cannot.
Thanks for your Tutorials! I'm currently learning Byzantine Chanting and my head almost broke while grasping the issue with Gorgon. It appears illogical to sing a note while looking on the next one. But your explanation makes sense, that you have to be watchful while singing as well. Byzantine notation is simplistic but so different from Western notation. One has to take good breaks between the lessons. ;-)
@TheosAthanatos To touch on a few things, Western notation is really inadequate and doesn't provide you with the information you need. Byzantine notation is very learnable...just different. It's perfect for the many words of our long services. Western notation hides many things (especially symbol patterns, the scales, and proper chanting style), and is often overwhelmed by extra rhythm and sharp/flat symbols. And, sadly, most people are not fast enough at sight-reading western notation.
Nicholas, what church do you go to in falls church? I’m at St. John in DC (although I used to go to St. George in Bethesda). I’d love to learn byzantine chant from you.
toahordika6 I go to St. Mary’s (Protection of the Mother of God) OCA parish (under the Romanian Episcopate). I’m hoping to start a new set of beginners lessons in the near future, but we can always link up.
I was there once for vespers so I might have seen you there. It was very beautiful chanting. A beginners class would be wonderful as my only knowledge of byzantine chanting comes from trying to sing along in Church. I can’t even read western notation all that well though so hopefully I can follow it (I’ve been following these videos pretty well so far). Send me an email at lazar @ cua.edu so we can get in contact.
@TheosAthanato Howdy! You are correct that many of these hymns are being reproduced in western notation currently. Having come from a western theory background, there are many things that can be stated. For a more in depth discussion, look St. Anthony's Monastery's comparison of Western and Byzantine Notations (unfortunately, I can't post links here) and my introductory remarks from the 2009 Byzantine Workshop at BYZANTINECHANTdotOrg.
@TheosAthanatos In addition to more subtle/advanced differences, you just cannot represent the basic soft chromatic scale (used in tone 2 and tone plagal 2) accurately using the Western notation. The tetrachord is 8-14-8, which is 2/3 whole note, 7/6 whole note, and 2/3 whole note... the voice can perform such intervals, but the piano, which is what Western notation is bound to, cannot.
Thanks for your Tutorials! I'm currently learning Byzantine Chanting and my head almost broke while grasping the issue with Gorgon. It appears illogical to sing a note while looking on the next one. But your explanation makes sense, that you have to be watchful while singing as well.
Byzantine notation is simplistic but so different from Western notation. One has to take good breaks between the lessons. ;-)
Thanks a lot! Very helpful.
@TheosAthanatos by "whole note" i mean "whole step," sorry.
@TheosAthanatos To touch on a few things, Western notation is really inadequate and doesn't provide you with the information you need. Byzantine notation is very learnable...just different. It's perfect for the many words of our long services. Western notation hides many things (especially symbol patterns, the scales, and proper chanting style), and is often overwhelmed by extra rhythm and sharp/flat symbols. And, sadly, most people are not fast enough at sight-reading western notation.
I'm not sure if you have the digorgon and trigorgon right, check it if you want
As far as I can tell, it all looks correct. Is there anything specific that doesn't make sense?
Hello Nicholas, may I ask, where do you teach Byzantine Chant?
Hi Diana! I currently teach in Falls Church, VA.
Nicholas, what church do you go to in falls church? I’m at St. John in DC (although I used to go to St. George in Bethesda). I’d love to learn byzantine chant from you.
toahordika6 I go to St. Mary’s (Protection of the Mother of God) OCA parish (under the Romanian Episcopate). I’m hoping to start a new set of beginners lessons in the near future, but we can always link up.
I was there once for vespers so I might have seen you there. It was very beautiful chanting. A beginners class would be wonderful as my only knowledge of byzantine chanting comes from trying to sing along in Church. I can’t even read western notation all that well though so hopefully I can follow it (I’ve been following these videos pretty well so far). Send me an email at lazar @ cua.edu so we can get in contact.
The should come up with simpler and clearer notation. This seems to have grown in an arbitrary way.