Byzantine music was established in the early years of Christianity and influenced by ancient Greek music. It has remained largely unchanged over the centuries and is closely tied to Orthodox religion, being used to accompany hymns praising God. Byzantine music is characterized by unaccompanied singing by choirs and uses the system of the eight modes to compose hymns. While it was initially influenced by European polyphonic styles, Orthodox churches later established schools to preserve the traditional monophonic nature of Byzantine music. Today it can be learned in churches, monasteries, and conservatories.

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1st
interview
“Byzantine music”
- Hello. We are studentsof the 1st General Lyceum of Levadia(prefecture of Viotia,Greece) in the
chapel of Agios Nikolaos with Mr Stathis Hlias. The interview takes place under the Erasmus +
program about our intangible cultural heritage. For the beginning, can you tell us when was BM
established, what are its influences and what are the stages of its evolution?
- - Welcome. Thank you for your invitation.B.M. was established from the early years of the
orthodox church, that is, from the early years of Christianity. It was established along with the
orthodox songs,the hymns(in Greek:ύμνους),because B.M. we can say that “dresses”these songs
(the hymns).The church,inthe earlyyearsof Christianity,used simple prayers.He tookphrasesfrom
the OldBible,prayerslike "Alleluia"(inGreek:Αλληλούια),since theydidnotreaditonly,theywere
singing the quietly.Other such prayers are "Lord Mercy," "Merciful Light," and so on. It is called
Byzantine Music because it was cultivated and established in Byzantium.B.M. is Greek. The Greeks
laidthe foundationsof the theoryof thismusic.The originsof the scalesof all the soundsof B.M.but
alsothe folksong(traditional songsof Greece)are foundinancientGreekmusic.The originalnames
of the soundswere:the firstsoundis called"Dorian"(from the Dorianof the history).The secondis
calledLydiusbyLydia.ButIwill nottell youmore aboutthis.B.M.itisan art and science atthe same
time.Itis an art of spiritual value.Intermsof the influenceshe hasaccepted,he hadreceivedmany
influencesin thepastbutrejectedthem.Manuscriptsof all centuriessince itsappearance certifythat
the melody is the same with the one is being sung today. In the church we have influences from
Jewish worship and faith. However, the use of musical instruments has been excluded from the
beginning.The same isfor the Syrianor Jewishterms.We didn’tadoptany of them.With orthodox
church songs, the hymns, we praise God.
In itsfirstyearsof establishment, ByzantineMusichasbeeninfluencedbyEuropeanMusic, because
at the beginningpeoplesanginfourvoices(we call them“quartets”).Thisisabolished, becausethe
Metropolitan Churches founded Schools of Byzantine Music. The only place in Greece we still have
polyphonic voices in B.M. is the Eptanisa.
-What is the relationship of Byzantine Music with Orthodox Religion?
- This relationship is very close. When we refer in Orthodox Religion, in fact we refer to Byzantine
Music. We can say that B.M. is the music, the songs of angels! We can also say that is ''heavens''
music, because itismade byhumanswhoworshipGodandwrite it withthe inspirationof HolySpirit.
The Saints, listen hymns of angels. Byzantine Music has this characteristic (I mean, it is connected

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with Orthodox religion). In Western countries, Protestantesand Roman Catholics have European
music.
- What are the characteristics of Byzantine Music and what is the difference to Western music?
- We have three characteristics of Byzantine Music. First,ithas functional feature, whichmeanswe
use it duringour worship. Second, melodyhasonlyvoices.Itdoesn’thave musical instruments.The
thirdcharacteristicisthat we sing itin groups,choirs.It doesnotbelonginone chanter. In churches
we usually see one chanter. This happens because of lack of others.
- Which are the different musical types (categories) Byzantine Music has?
- There are no typesin Byzantine Music. This happens because itis not music for amusement.B.M.
has notembeddedothertypesof music. B.M. isconsideredtobe music of heaven, spiritual music.
-Which are the stages of development of B.M ? What is the “eight sounds” (in Greek: Οκτώηχος
(oktoehos)?
- Fromthe firstChristianyearsof Orthodox churchuntil Constantinethe Great(4th
century) we have
Christian songs (the hymns) in Byzantine Music. Holy “Fathers” (Saings) of Orthodox church have
writtenhymns.These are Justinian,the Philosopherandwitnessandalso KlimisAleksandreousand
the Great Constantine and John Damaskinos.
Around the 700 a.c. we have an evolution in B.M. anchored in Ioannis Damaskinos, who had dealt
with the church’s dogma. He made a written code which was very difficult, like shorthand. It is not
easy for us to learn this code. For this reason later, other musicologists such as Grigorios
Xourmouzios,Xrisanthos, madeanotheronewrittencode,amore analyticwayof writingB.M.,which
it is used until now . Petros Peloponisios combined Ioannis’ written code with the previous way of
writing of the others and the teaching and the learning of B.M became easier. Since 1814 we
continue to use the same way of teaching and learning the B.M. As for the eight sound, oktoehos,
(in greek: οκτώηχος) that is the name of the system of sound we use for the B.M, to compose the
orthodox church songs(the hymns).In Orthodox churchwhenwe say oktoehos, we meanthe book
name “Request”(ingreek:Παρακλητική) ,the book Ishow you now.Inthe church the bookisbigger
(it has larger characters for the chanters that can see them and song them properly).
- Is the B.M a kind which develops or is it stays loyal in tradition?
- The B.M doesnot have development.Itremainsthe same. Of course we have some interventions
from the European Music and from the Folk Song (traditional music). B.M. has been influenced by
European Music in its expression. This happened to some chanters that embedded European
interventions.Butwe donothave changesinthe B.M, InFolkSongs,(traditionalmusicinGreece) ,a
single singer cannot chant.
- Our lastquestionis, who practice B.M ., where someonecan hear it and how someonecan learn
it ?
- The places where you can learn and hear the B.M is the monasteries,the conservatories (private
musicschools),fromchanters in churchesand from schoolsof Byzantine Musicin the Metropolitan
churches. But the best teaching is in the church. The last years there is also a department in the

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University of Philosophy in Athens and other countries of Greece,where there are departmentsof
music studies and B.M. is included.
-Mr Stathis, thank you very much for your interview.
- Thank you too and wish you the very best for your program in your school.
Interviewee: Mr. Stathis Hlias