Kassia - Byzantine Hymns from the first female composer of the Medieval Occident

Ensemble: VocaMe
Album: Kassia - Byzantine Hymns from the First Female Composer of the Occident
Video: Add MS 19352, XI secolo
/ musicamedievale
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About 290 years before the brilliant Hildegard of Bingen was born, Kassia was born in Constantinople, the oldest female composer of whom we have complete musical works today. Of Greek-Byzantine origin, she distinguished herself at an early age for her intelligence and beauty. Many chroniclers, a few years later than her such as Simeon Metaphraste, George the monk (also called George the sinner) and Leo the Mathematician, maintain that she participated in the Parade of Brides in which the Byzantine emperor Theophilus was supposed to choose his bride, delivering to the chosen one, as usual, a golden apple. Fascinated by Kassia's beauty, the young emperor approached her and said: "Through a woman the basest passions are distilled (referring to Eve's original sin)." Kassia responded to him by saying, "But through a woman come the best things (referring to the birth of Jesus)." Out of pride, Theophilus chose another bride, Theodora.
Kassia founded a monastery west of Constantinople of which she became the abbess. A letter from Theodore Studite indicates that she was in close relationship with the nearby monastery of Studion which played a central role in the revival of the Byzantine liturgy between the 9th and 10th centuries. This situation has contributed to the fact that Kassia's works have survived intact to the present day.
She wrote many hymns for the Christian liturgy, the most famous of which is Kassiani's Hymn which is sung on Holy Tuesday. Tradition, which became legend, holds that Emperor Theophilus, in love with Kassia, asked to see her one more time before dying. He therefore went to her monastery. She was writing a hymn when she heard that the emperor wanted to see her. So she left her unfinished work on the table and hid behind a door. Theophilus entered the cell alone but did not find Kassia. He looked for her in the cell but she wasn't there; hidden she looked at him. Teophilius was very sad, he cried and regretted having, in a fit of pride, rejected such a beautiful and intellectual woman. Then he noticed the unfinished hymn lying on the table and read it. When he had read it he sat down at the table and finished the hymn that Kassia had left incomplete. Legend says that as he was about to leave he glimpsed Kassia but did not speak to her.
The VocaMe ensemble is one of the many projects of the German musician Michael Popp, certainly very talented and original in his research, but I have always approached his productions with extreme caution given that in many of his ensembles he does not disdain the use of electronics, even when talking about ancient music. In this album, although he is mentioned in the booklet as a director and player of "various musical instruments" (←just as I wrote!), I don't seem to have noticed any electronic instruments.
Regarding the video: I had been keeping the wonderful images of Theodore Psalter, Constantinople, 1066 - Add MS 19352 for years waiting to find a suitable musical work and I think that the album by the German female ensemble Vocame is definitely perfect both for its time than for the place of origin. The women musicians depicted in the manuscript, in addition to Kassia's works, should make us reflect on how many things there are still to discover about the female repertoire of the past which has always been considered very small, but which certainly requires greater attention and research.
I wish you happy listening!
Mirkò Virginio Volpe
MUSICA MEDIEVALE
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Alto vocals - Natalia Lincoln
Soprano Vocals - Gerlinde Sämann, Sabine Lutzenberger, Sarah M. Newman
Santur - Johann Bengen
Instruments, Direction - Michael Popp
Mezzo-soprano vocals - Elisabeth Pawelke, Sigrid Hausen
•
Buy: www.vocame.de/vocame-engl.html
🌻 The monetization of this channel is disabled to offer the highest possible listening quality. Please support the channel with a free donation: paypal.me/volpemirko or / musicamedievale
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#musicamedievale #earlymusic #medievalmusic #kassia #realmedievalmusic #medioevo #byzantine #byzantine_empire

[@spaceseer]

How have I not heard of this composer? This is some of the finest medieval music i've ever heard!

[@heaven7360]

because women composers are ignored

[@BernardSAUSSAIE]

00:00:00 01. Doxazomen Sou Christe 00:01:40 02. Ek Rizis Agathis 00:03:07 03. O Synapostatis Tyrannos 00:05:52 04. O Phariseos 00:08:16 05. O Vasilevy Tis Doxis Christos 00:11:12 06. Edessa 00:15:31 07. Tin Pentachordon Lyran 00:18:54 08. Igapisas Theophore 00:22:07 09. Yper Ton Ellinon 00:23:38 10. I En Polles Amarties 00:27:27 11. Pelagia 00:29:08 12. Tou Stavrou Sou I Dynamis 00:31:36 13. Olvon Lipousa Patrikon 00:33:17 14. Petron Ke Pavlon 00:36:18 15. Isaïou Nyn Tou Prophitou 00:39:31 16. I Ton Lipsanon Sou Thiki 00:41:57 17. Avgoustou Monarchisantos 00:43:47 18. Christina Martys

[@yennefervengerberg1304]

Thank you... ❤

[@MsLeenite]

Thank you, Bernard.

[@MauroBalbino001]

Muito obrigado. 💯

[@TheLeftwheel]

ty

[@johnlackland1823]

Thanks for that 😊

[@miketacos9034]

Truly beautiful. Amazing we can just stumble upon such beauty from one video recommendation.

[@athecheat]

My calico kitten girl who never seems to respond to humans singing (unlike my other cat) perked up for this opening voice

[@LLS710]

Maybe she just doesn't react to busted singing.

[@mcburcke]

Beautiful! Very rarely-heard repertoire, thanks!

[@joalexsg9741]

It was once Constantinople and will remain so forever in our hearts! Many thanks for this exquisite compilation with magnificent renditions!

[@ingriddurden3929]

very nice, thanks for posting ! I read to my surprise among the vocalists Elisabeth Pawelke! She was long ago with the modern-medieval group Faun. I think she left to become a true medieval music performer, and am glad to see she did!

[@arbitrarium7336]

Listening to this really creates blessings and grace for all of creation, the Angels are carrying me up to Jesus with the most holy smoothness and eternal love.

[@LucasSCarcavilla]

Thank you! I only could hear medieval songs sung by women, don't know why... This fill up my soul with a feminine energy that heals so much.... ❤ this is pure magic

[@brunoporcu3207]

Bellissima, magnifica!!!

[@peroquepitos]

No hay palabras que describan la belleza de ésta obra. Además de una maravillosa interpretación. Gracias por compartir.

[@saintleger858]

Magnifique cet hymne de l'Empire Byzantin, quel bel héritage pour nos sociétés trop axées sur la consommation.

[@user-yz7fq3ii6s]

These are beautiful and devoted cover versions of divinely inspired ancient songs. Especially when it comes to spiritual chanting the motivation of the singers are most important. I'm sure Kassia would have liked this interpretation.. 😊❤❤❤

[@MJSpangle]

This is profoundly beautiful music. Thank you for posting it.

[@farginargle]

This music you give us just drives out all the bad juju immediately.

[@Antreus]

Wow! Great timing. I was looking for something like this

[@xelab6181]

Cette musique est magnifique, nourrissante pour l'âme, apaisante pour l'esprit. Merci 💚💙💜

[@rominafrette9605]

Qué belleza ! Gracias por compartirlo ! Bendiciones 😊🤗💖

[@randomobserver683]

Divine❤

[@rasensis]

Currently playing this for my daughter in my belly. I hope she enjoys 🙏 Christ is King

[@MsLeenite]

May you both be healthy and happy. 🙏🧡

[@rasensis]

@@MsLeenite thank you so much 💜💜 2 months to go! Sending love to you and your family in return 🙏

[@Ljw-low-ljw]

Actually Charles III is King.

[@todd92371]

God bless her and I hope her days are full of sunshine and God.

[@natsinthebelfry]

Miscarriage lol

[@nalunoa]

Sublime! Many thanks for this.

[@W.ClassicMusic]

Thank you for the wonderful music today🥰

[@user-ye2ge4zo5lhennypenny]

Hi from Australia 🇦🇺 thankyou for this great upload! I am going to add it to my playlist! I can listen to thus type of music 24/7 ❤❤🎉🎉

[@gristlevonraben]

very pretty singing and songs

[@evelynwehbe]

Extemely enchanting! What beautiful music & story❤❤

[@worthlessendeavors]

Thank you for posting and describing this and all of the other amazing videos you post.

[@MaryJoDeLaTorre7]

I find this interpretation so beautiful even if maybe it isn't quite accurate. I don't know because I'm not an expert but I think the sound is very pleasant. It's like if nuns in the times of Hildegard would try to sing the old byzantine hymns in the "newer" occidental style. Wonderful!

[@neyzan7689]

That is actually a very apt description. Whoever interpreted Kassiani's compositions has used the latin modes instead of the greek ones, introduced an obvious anachronism (polyphony), seems to have absolutely no idea about oriental vocal technique and embouchure, and uses musical instruments! which to this day is unthinkable in most of the orthodox churches and definitely during Kassiani's time.

[@MsLeenite]

@@neyzan7689 So, a happy intersection of accidents made for a harmonious delight.

[@petrtymp6113]

To my Greek Orthodox ears it is like what pineapple in pizzas looks like for Italians!! Very interesting nevertheless ( NO pun intended and THANKS A LOT for sharing!)

[@Poodle_Gun]

I have yet to see anyone produce evidence that it's not accurate.

[@neyzan7689]

@@Poodle_Gun just hop into my Tardis. How could anyone produce evidence for that? (apart from the fact that polyphony in general and musical instruments in church are out of the question for 9th c. Constantinople) We similarly don't have any evidence that gregorian chant or Hildegard von Bingen's compositions (or Jaufre Rudel's, for that matter) sound the way they are performed today. It's just based on what Solesmes and classical musicians in the 19th c. (not really a ringing endorsement for historical accuracy) thought what medieval music sounded like - that's what happens when you let a tradition wither. In contrast, the oriental plainchant tradition and its neumatic system (whose earliest form was developed during Kassiani's day) is very much alive and in wide use, even if it is constricted by the extreme conservatism of the orthodox church. I've sung some of Kassiani's works myself over the years (including, of course, the Troparion), it appears that whoever did the research for this album used those same sources we are using, but interpreted the neums in the western way and used the western vocal techniques and motifs. So, if anyone would think that this is what music sounded like in Constantinople at the time, what happened in between? A few later centuries and Jaufre Rudel's compositions sound "arabic", or, at least, are performed that way today. Do you think that the music of the Khalifate came out of thin air? It was just a continuation of the Graecoroman and Syriac/Aramaic musical traditions of the region - with emphasis on the Greek; arab musical theory built on the ancient Greek works, based on the knowledge preserved in the Roman territories the Khalifate took over. John Damascene, maybe the most important poet and composer of the time, was a minister of the Khalifate before becoming a monk. So, if we believe that the arab musical tradition hasn't significantly changed in the past millennium, why think that for the musical tradition of eastern plainchant? People tend to point to the similarities with ottoman music, and don't realise that the influence was more the other way around. The ottoman court, while initially Persian influenced, was dominated by Greek and Armenian musicians since at least the 18th century. This led to the Turkish makamat being today the only other system (that I know of) to use the Greek division of the pitch relations instead of the arabopersian ones (e.g. the Segâh tone is slightly higher in Greek and Turkish music than in the Arabic and Persian traditions), and influenced both vocal and instrumental technique. Ottoman sanat singing is basically "byzantine" chant, with added nasal overtones from the tradition of quranic recitation. Any hafiz can with 6-12 months studying the neums and repertoire (and getting rid of the nasal overtones) take easily over as lead left cantor in any orthodox church.

[@AnneBeggs]

Stunning

[@ThePhilosorpheus]

I recommend this music for prayer. It can be enjoyed on its own merit, but it is in prayer that it finds its deeper fulfillment and its profound mystical power is unleashed. Cheers! God bless.

[@lararimac258]

Just prayed the rosemary with this playing 😊

[@cristinag5798]

¡Preciosa música y voces!! El imperio Bizantino, ha hecho un gran aporte a la cultura y el arte,que no ha sido reinvidicado en su justa medida. 👏👏👏🇦🇷❤️

[@miguelfernandes5628]

I plan to use my headphones and listen to this wonderful set when I visit the church or Our Lady of Perpetual Aid, gracias!!

[@Faridasharan]

- exquisite voices uplifiing adn carrying one to the heart and soul of love.....

[@MarcoCasadO]

this is so beautiful... thank you for sharing.... I am buying it immediately

[@susanvaughan4210]

Exquisite!

[@stlouisix3]

Glory be to 😊Christ ⛪ the King 👑 of Kings. Amen. ❤😊❤

[@stlouisix3]

❤❤

[@stlouisix3]

❤😊❤😊❤

[@thedreadtyger]

Χριστός ανέστη!

[@yourhighness6457]

Christ is King!

[@stlouisix3]

@@thedreadtyger Christos Anesti.

[@XandruReguera]

Grazie mile!

[@luislazopintor]

Muy bella música!!!❤

[@sarry4326]

素晴らしい芸術作品。アップロードありがとうございます。

[@bleustarz9457]

My goodness this is beautiful! ❤️

[@pirpiru]

So Beautiful & Spiritual ❤

[@adalina2361]

Que bello❤

[@StoneHerne]

😃 Heavenly beautiful music as well as your yt channel! 😃

[@MarcoCasadO]

bellísimo!!

[@johns2226]

Unless you are referring to an entirety different woman 🤨, the nun Kassiane (not Kassia), a poetess and hymn writer of the "Byzantine" middle ages, an erudite woman of her time would be appalled at this badly enunciated Greek of her Troparia sung in this garish Germanic Baroque music. She was a hymn writer not a music composer, and if she was a music composer, the hymns would have been composed in one of the eight Modes of the "Byzantine" church music and tempo... suitable to the subject matter of each hymn.. the music of "Byzantium" is by intonation, even secular music with instrumental accompaniment...

[@MauroBalbino001]

Even so, I'm humble to be grateful for the record. And happy for its excellency.

[@cassiopeia2593]

Wunderschöner Gesang!

[@dana5757]

Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе Христос! Господи, Помилуй! Господи, Прости! Господи, Спаси!

[@NatalieJones-mi7xo]

Lovely

[@erickernfeld4977]

this is awesome.

[@789truth]

@23:46 I fly through the clouds, beneath a wilderness, verdures of giant trees and rivers... I am grateful

[@lewsoowiej5963]

Beautiful

[@mibulescu]

marvelous

[@Losmuertosandan]

wonderful

[@kevinsawyer6968]

Very unusual. Thanx!

[@aceofclubs2755]

23:28 is the famous hymn of Kassiani

[@bloop736]

**23:39 ?

[@unkolawdio]

Yes

[@mindyourownbusinessplease1120]

i am inlove

[@bjstudio4865]

the words, transcribed by Saint Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church »At Bridegroom Orthros (Matins) on Great and Holy Tuesday evening, the Church chants the following beautiful and inspiring hymn written by Saint Kassiani: "O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Thy Divinity, fulfilled the part of a myrrh-bearer; and with lamentations she brought sweet-smelling oil of myrrh to Thee before Thy burial. 'Woe is me,' she said, 'for night surrounds me, dark and moonless, and stings my lustful passion with the love of sin. Accept the fountain of my tears, O Thou Who drawest down from the clouds the waters of the sea. Incline to the groanings of my heart, O Thou Who in Thine ineffable self-emptying hast bowed down the heavens. I shall kiss Thy Most Pure feet and wipe them with the hairs of my head, those feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise and hid herself for fear. Who can search out the multitude of my sins and the abyss of Thy judgments, O Savior of my soul? Despise me not, Thine handmaiden, for Thou hast mercy without measure."

[@Piltribus]

very clean

[@dejanstevanic5408]

Too clean

[@user-lh1kd2sl6t]

Я не специалист, но я православный русский и мы привыкли совершенно к другому звучанию. Хотя могу предположить, что это возможно ближе к румынской или болгарской культуре. Они тоже наследники православной Византии. 😊

[@user-hf7hn5dz5t]

Нет, чётко романское звучание. Такое могло быть только у крестоносцев на Византийской территории. Наша восточная музыкальная традиция слишком обширна и проработанна сама по себе. Результат очень красивый, но аутентичности тут, конечно, ноль. Так пели в какой-нибудь из церквей... не знаю, Эльзаса какого-нибудь.

[@peteykwia2752]

Durch das Parfum ging ich in die Geschichte von Byzance!!! 👍💜🥀🥂!

[@leftblax7065]

I'm so confused by this... If interprented without any context, it's lovely work done by clearly talented musicians, but definitely not what it's 'selling' itself as. These are definitely not byzantine hymns of the 9th century, they sound more like hymns that stem vaguely from the italian-germanic renaissance and baroque period. I don't understand the need to, in a sense, 'westernify' byzantine chant instead of preserving the original compositions, especially when it comes to presenting the works of a woman who is still claimed as one of the best liturgical composers of eastern orthodox christianity. Coming to that i have no idea why there's a need to stress that she's the first female composer of the 'christian occident' since that's a flat out lie, she belonged and still belongs to the cultural sphere of the 'christian orient' - if you wanna call it that. The experience is about as jarring as if someone made a video with the title *Misere mei - One of the most beautiful chants of Catholicism*, in which the original composition is disgarded and the lyrics are re-interprented to be sung in a Vedic chant style. As much as wonderful artistry has gone into producing this, the result itself is ultimately confusing and misleading.

[@nuzzi6620]

You’ve summed up my thoughts perfectly; you’re absolutely correct. Complete ignorance on the part of this channel-though I’m sure they mean well. The “Occident”, for that matter, has always tended to denigrate and appropriate from the Christian “Orient” anyways, so it’s not surprising that (whether intentionally or unintentionally) that same tendency is displayed here.

[@Ricardo-lb4so]

Although listening the hymn is a beautiful experience I cannot agree more with your opinion

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

i like it too

[@Venerablebean]

Definitely not baroque, but very much like Hildegard of Bingen from the 12th century.

[@neyzan7689]

Having studied the so called "byzantine" chant (it's actually just the traditional chant of the eastern churches - mostly used in the Greek, Arabic and Romanian speaking world nowadays) extensively, I couldn't agree more. I do indeed hear echo's of Kassiani's compositions in this recording, but they are very vague. It's very nice music, but it is only based on Kassiani and definitely not how it would have been performed at the time. For that, and given the extreme conservatism of the orthodox church, you'll get a much more accurate rendition by any recording of Τροπάριο Κασσιανής, even if it's just by a few grannies in some remote village.

[@requiemforadreamsubs]

❤

[@MrQ454]

It's interesting how Byzantines became ”Occidentals” only when someone need something from them and for all the time they became wicked East.

[@nidhavellir]

Huh?

[@MrQ454]

@@nidhavellir ”...first female composer of the Medieval Occident” , Byzantine is not Medieval Occident

[@sebastiamarques3274]

@@MrQ454 A more accurate wording would be Medieval Christendom.

[@achilleuspetreas3828]

@@sebastiamarques3274 not even that. Christendom was divided East and West already by her time. The correct would be of the Christian East. It's just another pathetic attempt to steal and take credit for Greek accomplishments by those who were their enemies at the time.

[@ariafraidaki2237]

This is Greek culture (the NT and most of the Christian philosophy is in Greek, remember? It is neither wicked nor "Eastern" to anybody, only in your mind.

[@nancyvandewalker555]

🌹

[@dino52ification]

🌟

[@babilynalvarado1539]

❤❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@honeyspur]

5:52 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@steveegallo3384]

Exquisite......23:28.......BRAVI from Mexico City!

[@M4r1a_Schn33]

you mean the Michael Popp from Qntal or Helium Vola? 😉 I agree with you, his passion for electronics on the other hand brought some really delightful music to life, such as Monsieur's Departure, a sung poem written by Queen Elizabeth I in 1582, or "Nachtblume", a poem from Joseph Eichendorff. Its a different style, more for the younger audience like they are at the WGT in Leipzig^^ greatings from a fan 🤗👋

[@clan_o]

Byzantine is such a confusing term. It was the east roman empire, Greek influenced and at it's peak Greek led, survived over a thousand years, did not go thru the "midleages", and it's fall ( mostly because of the western roman empire or what it had became at that point) is the beggining of renaiseance. At the point of Kassia's life, orthodox and catholic church were still be united. I'd be suprised though if the music here resembles the original.

[@achilleuspetreas3828]

It doesn't resemble the original in the slightest. And during Kassiani's time the Orthodox and the Roman Church already began to split. Even Western hymns did not sound like this until the late middle ages/early renaissance

[@MrMcsia]

Beautiful singing but too much digital reverb.

[@leobart3328]

werk queen

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Thank you for this beautiful music.

[@vavovidnica]

Stvarčina! Ⰾⰻⱂⱁ! Ⱄⰲⰰⰽⰰ ⱍⰰⱄⱅ

[@MsLeenite]

Thank you for sharing this with us, Mirko. Lots of critical comments, but since I'm not any kind of scholar I just enjoyed the beautiful singing. It was peaceful and soothing to the heart.

[@edwardmond5523]

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌞🌞🌞🌼🌼🌼🌼

[@bl6904]

I wonder what she's singing about

[@LSOP-]

God

[@catnotpat3693]

I suspect they are singing about whatever their male superiors approved of.

[@radykegeek1673]

@@catnotpat3693wrong. She sung about the Goddess

[@yourhighness6457]

​@@catnotpat3693 as it should be

[@teachertrx1204]

Cite your source. Prove it.​@@radykegeek1673

[@Ellier215]

This woke my cat right up.

[@nickthabit420]

Those lowered seconds! Marry me, Kassie.

[@nexussever]

Does anyone know where to find the lyrics in English?

[@neyzan7689]

Just contact your local orthodox church, these hymns are used to this day - they don't sound anything like this, though. This is just a modern reinterpretation of her compositions.

[@elizabethrogge7908]

What is the recording who are the performers?

[@paulietteburnett7270]

Queen Neferterria Princess Lavengra Queen Neferterria Princess famous Family Royalties True Forums

[@The_Custos]

Perfect for Bannerlord.

[@user-oq7fl7po9v]

Not Beaounce... Absolutely sure! 😊

[@chaosdream21]

"But through a woman come the best things (referring to the birth of Jesus)." The original clapback.

[@paddymeboy]

Does Byzantium count as the Occident? Debateable one, you certainly wouldn't call it 'Western', which is what Occidental means.

[@22poopoo]

Was thinking the same. I expected western European composer when I saw the title. But I guess occidental meaning of Europe not of Asia. Even that is debatable considering Constantinople straddles both continents.

[@marshhen]

It was the Eastern Roman Empire after Rome disintegrated. It kept the scholarship (literally in its archives) of the "West" up until that time, a compendium of Greek and Roman scholarship. both before Jesus and after the Roman empire's adoption of Christianity by Emperor Constantine, who moved its capital to Istanbul (he named it Constantinople). So because the Roman empire and all serious early Christian scholarship and the scholarship of antiquity was located in Byzantium, it carried on traditions of the "West". So it is part of the cultural West. It is also on the Western side of the sea that divides the continent of Europe and Asia. So that is also why it is called the West. From Istanbul you can look across the Bosphorous sea and take the ferry over to the continent of Asia.

[@russergee49]

​@@marshhen You forget that Eastern Roman territories were very much in the eastern part as well, and there was a strong Greek presence in Anatolia until it diminished for tragic reasons over the course of the 20th century. Musically and culturally speaking, it belongs more to the east than the west.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

That is gorgeous. Perfect for work.

[@tamarab.7151]

Saint Cecil compose songs

[@Domozorro]

12:34

[@Domozorro]

9:17

[@OlegKramer]

Orient, not Occident

[@roc7880]

being from Byzance, it was not the West, unless you (correctly) assume that Orthodoxy is also part of the Occident. you cannot say West is only the Catholic+Protestant part of Europe only when it suits you. the music is although amazing.

[@clydeblair9622]

Do I hear an oud?

[@VeganWithAraygun]

🫶🏻🎼❤️‍🔥🎵❤️‍🔥🎶🪷🙏🏼

[@Dolores5000]

Thas not the Byzantine mode tho

[@iianneill6013]

Wonderful! Do scholars have an idea to what extent Byzantine music was a continuation of Ancient Roman musical tradition, given that those in Constantinople identified themselves as Romans?

[@neyzan7689]

Given that Constantine moved the whole state apparatus (including the artists) to Constantinople there is certainly a strong influence of the Graecoroman musical tradition, up to the initial use of the ancient greek notation (essentially as a memory aide). But during Kassia(ni)'s time there was also a strong influence of the Syriac/Aramaic tradition, brought by the large influx of refugees from the middle east, after the rise of the Khalifate in the 8th century. This fact makes it highly likely that the neumatic system was developed (possibly during Kassiani's time) from the preexisting aramaic neumatic system. During this period, a major liturgical development of the monastic rite was underway, centered on the Stoudion monastery in Constantinople (with which the nun Kassiani had close ties) - which would by then be flooded with monks from Syria and Palestine. After that, and with the gradual adoption of the new monastic rite by the whole orthodox church, no real innovation has happened in the past thousand years, apart from the development of more lengthy melodies on preexisting forms, to accommodate the larger duration of many church ceremonies. It probably wouldn't have sounded like this though. Given that Syriac influence, modern recordings of the so-called "Byzantine" chant, are in all likelihood much closer in vocal technique. P.S.: I think that a lot of people imagine Roman music to sound something like gregorian chant, maybe with a mix of how we today imagine ancient greek music to have sounded like, but we really cannot know - especially since we are mostly familiar with the 19th c. Solesmes interpretation of gregorian chant, and no way of actually knowing if it was indeed performed the same way a thousand years ago - what we do know is that Charlemagne wanted his musicians (presumably both secular and religious) to compose and perform in the "Roman style" (emphasizing his claim to Roman emperor) - whatever they thought the "Roman style" was at the time.

[@iianneill6013]

@@neyzan7689 This is a greater answer than I could possibly have dreamed of. Thank you!

[@ariafraidaki2237]

They didn't identify themselves as Roman. The Hellenistic world became part of the Roman Empire. The scholarship and education was Greek. Well, the NT and most Christian philosophy is in Greek, in case you haven't noticed. Also musicology and theory of music are a Greek affair since antiquity. Try finding treatises in other ancient languages.

[@generalnguyenngocloan1700]

Not Eastern Roman. 🧐

[@user-mf6iy9uh8c]

最初のレジンの ぼたん、 イスラエルの、 レビ記 秋田モロコシ

[@SagucuTegin]

I was expecting more Eastern melodies, to my ear it reminded me of polyphonic western church music. Byzantine hymns have Persian and Syriac-influenced modes.

[@Venerablebean]

This sounds very much like Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century.

[@yorgosGreece]

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