Mount Athos, the ark of Orthodox Christianity, is undoubtedly the cradle of Byzantine music. In the period of revival of athonian monasticism (after a period of decline), the ‘Mousikodidaskaleion’ (Musical School) of the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi, which had for centuries been providing the musical education of monks, has resumed its activities. It endowed the monastery with a collection of melodians, a rich archive of recordings, books, manuscripts and, above all, a rich tradition which is continued by the modern chorus of the monastery. The systematic study combining the knowledge of written and the experience of the oral musical tradition forms the basis of this joint effort by Crete University Press and the Vatopaidi Monastery to fill a gap in the discography. In this framework, a CD for every day of the Holy Week was recorded. These editions contain all the classic compositions on the Holy Passion, sung in the traditional athonite fashion. The recording were made in situ, because chanting acquires a differet dimension in its natural environment. The protracted musical interpretation on an everyday basis is combined with the evelasting prayer, constituting an basic element of monastic life and leading to a deeper experience of its essence. The performance and the glorification of the Holy Passion by the monks themselves creates an atmosphere of devotion which leads to a moving truth.
Contents | 1. ‘Christ is risen from the dead...’ 3.40 Apolytikion (dismissal hymn) of Pascha. Brief and slow heirmological melody. First Plagal Mode 2. The first Ode of the Canon with the Katavasia 3.34 First Mode 3. The third Ode of the Canon with the Katavasia 3.05 4. The Hypakoe 0.32 5. The fourth Ode of the Canon with the Katavasia 4.15 6. The fifth Ode of the Canon with the Katavasia 3.10 7. The sixth Ode of the Canon with the Katavasia 3.12 8. The Kontakion, the Oikos, the Synaxarion, the ‘Let us who have beheld the Resurrection...’, and ‘Jesus, having risen...’ 3.00 9. The seventh Ode of the Canon with the Katavasia 4.28 10. The eighth Ode of the Canon with the Katavasia 4.34 11. The ninth Ode of the Canon with the Megalynaria and the Katavasia 5.53 12. ‘A sacred Pascha...’, ‘Come from that scene...’, ‘The myrrh-bearing women...’, ‘Pascha of delight...’ 4.09 The Stichera of Pascha. First Plagal Mode 13. ‘It is the day of Resurrection; let us be radiant...’ 14.11 Doxastikon of the Praises, melody of Chrysaphes the Younger. First Plagal Mode 14. ‘Partake ye of the Body of Christ...’ 15.08 Communion Hymn of Pascha, melody of the priest Balasios. First Mode 15. ‘O Thy divine and beloved...’ 5.55 Calophonic Heirmos, melody of Petros Bereketis. First Mode CONTENTS OF THE BOOKLET Chants sung Introduction About this CD Texts of the hymns Musical notes Index of the illustrations Musical publications of C.U.P. Musical texts of the hymns (in Greek part) | |