This programme, entitled Byzantine Passion, showcases the chants of the Eastern liturgies of Great Week (corresponding to Holy Week).
Among the innovations of the Byzantine “Ars Nova” was a new musical form, kratéma, which did not use traditional liturgical texts, but syllables with no specific meaning, such as “te-ri-rem” and “to-to-ton”, in an attempt to express the unsayable and to create a mystical atmosphere.
The Orthodox Church opens Great Week on Great Monday, by singing Alleluia, Behold the Bridegroom (Το Αλληλούια του Νυμφίου). This melody, described by Czech composer and musicologist Aleš Březina as the “cross theme”, was used by Bohuslav Martinů in both versions of his opera, The Greek Passion (London 1957; Zurich 1959). In tonight’s programme, we will hear the original Greek traditional tune (in the fourth plagal mode) followed by an arrangement for mixed choir based on Martinů’s opera with extra psalm verses according to the Greek liturgical practice.
The programme then continues with samples of chants from the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, a particular ritual of the Great Lent, when the Holy Gifts of the Body and Blood of Christ, previously sanctified at a full liturgy performed according to Basil the Great or John Chrysostom, are presented to believers for veneration and communion.
In the Latin rite, there is a parallel to this liturgy, but it is only used on Good Friday, whereas in the Eastern rite it is applied throughout the Lent period, Saturdays and Sundays excepted. Its structure is redolent of an evening, i.e. non-Eucharist, service, and includes the customary introductory psalm, Lord, I cry unto thee, and the evening hymn, Quiet light. At the very conclusion, we hear the chants for the Great Thursday and Great Friday, with their Byzantine melodies.
Marios Christou, translated by Štěpán Kaňa
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BYZANTINE PASSION
Orthodox repertoire of Holy Week
Philokallia (Prague) / Marios Christou
soloist Aikaterini Asfoura
Church of Saint Joseph, Josefská street
April 15, 7 PM
