Figure 1: Excerpt from Сладкогласен Ирмос (Calophonic Heirmos) by Hieromonk Athanasius of Rila (early-mid 19th c.):

First line: Hieromonk Neophyte’s handwriting in Chrysantine notation (from manuscript HP115);

Second line; my transcription in stave notation,

Third line: a pitch reduction as relevant to the perceived harmonic structure in my view (relevance will become clear in the following chapters).

NB. The flow of the phrases does not interrupt at the end of each stave but continues on to the next one. The lack of barlines is conventional.

(The chant can be heard on the following YouTube video, sung by Neophyte Patriarch of Bulgaria – click here  (opens in new tab/window))


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