Byzantine Chant of the early Byzantine Era. Title: "Πνευματικώς ημάς πιστοί" (Today the Prophet Daniel has gathered us spiritually) Service: The Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace. ~ THIS IS THE 1st PART. TO SEE … [More]

Byzantine Chant of the early Byzantine Era. Title: "Πνευματικώς ημάς πιστοί" (Today the Prophet Daniel has gathered us spiritually) Service: The Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace. ~ THIS IS THE 1st PART. TO SEE THE 2nd PART PLEASE CLICK ON THE FIRST VIDEO RESPONSE TO THIS VIDEO. ~ This chant is a 12th century transcription of an ancient byzantine chant. It was used during a now defunct church service, called the "Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace" which was an interlude between the Matins and the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday before the Nativity. Nowadays only this troparion (part I) remains as part of the Matins, to remind the whole service which lasted about 35-40 minutes. ~ The similarity of this particular piece with the corresponding old roman chants is evident. Though the transcription and the interpretation has a distinct late byzantine style, the elements that show the ancient origin of the chant are present and noticeable, and in this respect this piece is an extremely rare sample. If one listens carefully, through the melodic decorations and calophonic improvisations of the byzantine style, one can clearly discern the basic melody which is astoundingly similar to its western contemporaries. ~ A further point of interest is the insertion of female or children voices (in part II) - a practice not usual in byzantine chanting tradition - to represent the voices of the Three Youths praying to the Lord, inside the fiery furnace. The Youths chant without accompaniment until the end, when they join the heavenly choir and the choir of the christian people, in a symbolism which I personally find of breathtaking beauty.

Byzantine Chant of the early Byzantine Era. Title: "Πνευματικώς ημάς πιστοί" (Today the Prophet Daniel has gathered us spiritually) Service: The Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace. ~ THIS IS THE 1st PART. TO SEE THE 2nd PART PLEASE CLICK ON THE FIRST VIDEO RESPONSE TO THIS VIDEO. ~ This chant is a 12th century transcription of an ancient byzantine chant. It was used during a now defunct church service, called the "Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace" which was an interlude between the Matins and the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday before the Nativity. Nowadays only this troparion (part I) remains as part of the Matins, to remind the whole service which lasted about 35-40 minutes. ~ The similarity of this particular piece with the corresponding old roman chants is evident. Though the transcription and the interpretation has a distinct late byzantine style, the elements that show the ancient origin of the chant are present and noticeable, and in this respect this piece is an extremely rare sample. If one listens carefully, through the melodic decorations and calophonic improvisations of the byzantine style, one can clearly discern the basic melody which is astoundingly similar to its western contemporaries. ~ A further point of interest is the insertion of female or children voices (in part II) - a practice not usual in byzantine chanting tradition - to represent the voices of the Three Youths praying to the Lord, inside the fiery furnace. The Youths chant without accompaniment until the end, when they join the heavenly choir and the choir of the christian people, in a symbolism which I personally find of breathtaking beauty.

Byzantine Chant of the early Byzantine Era. Title: "Πνευματικώς ημάς πιστοί" (Today the Prophet Daniel has gathered us spiritually) Service: The Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace. ~ THIS IS THE 1st PART. TO SEE THE 2nd PART PLEASE CLICK ON THE FIRST VIDEO RESPONSE TO THIS VIDEO. ~ This chant is a 12th century transcription of an ancient byzantine chant. It was used during a now defunct church service, called the "Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace" which was an interlude between the Matins and the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday before the Nativity. Nowadays only this troparion (part I) remains as part of the Matins, to remind the whole service which lasted about 35-40 minutes. ~ The similarity of this particular piece with the corresponding old roman chants is evident. Though the transcription and the interpretation has a distinct late byzantine style, the elements that show the ancient origin of the chant are present and noticeable, and in this respect this piece is an extremely rare sample. If one listens carefully, through the melodic decorations and calophonic improvisations of the byzantine style, one can clearly discern the basic melody which is astoundingly similar to its western contemporaries. ~ A further point of interest is the insertion of female or children voices (in part II) - a practice not usual in byzantine chanting tradition - to represent the voices of the Three Youths praying to the Lord, inside the fiery furnace. The Youths chant without accompaniment until the end, when they join the heavenly choir and the choir of the christian people, in a symbolism which I personally find of breathtaking beauty.

Byzantine Chant of the early Byzantine Era. Title: "Πνευματικώς ημάς πιστοί" (Today the Prophet Daniel has gathered us spiritually) Service: The Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace. ~ THIS IS THE 1st PART. TO SEE THE 2nd PART PLEASE CLICK ON THE FIRST VIDEO RESPONSE TO THIS VIDEO. ~ This chant is a 12th century transcription of an ancient byzantine chant. It was used during a now defunct church service, called the "Service of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace" which was an interlude between the Matins and the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday before the Nativity. Nowadays only this troparion (part I) remains as part of the Matins, to remind the whole service which lasted about 35-40 minutes. ~ The similarity of this particular piece with the corresponding old roman chants is evident. Though the transcription and the interpretation has a distinct late byzantine style, the elements that show the ancient origin of the chant are present and noticeable, and in this respect this piece is an extremely rare sample. If one listens carefully, through the melodic decorations and calophonic improvisations of the byzantine style, one can clearly discern the basic melody which is astoundingly similar to its western contemporaries. ~ A further point of interest is the insertion of female or children voices (in part II) - a practice not usual in byzantine chanting tradition - to represent the voices of the Three Youths praying to the Lord, inside the fiery furnace. The Youths chant without accompaniment until the end, when they join the heavenly choir and the choir of the christian people, in a symbolism which I personally find of breathtaking beauty.