On the Evidence that Confirms the Continuity of Georgian Chant Tradition

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 90 - 109, 30.06.2022

Zaal Tsereteli

https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1079507

Öz

The texts of Georgian polyphonic chants (heirmoi), written down in the 19th century using the European notational system, can be found in mediaeval musical manuscripts as well. Is there any connection between these two sources with at least ten century-long time difference? The article reveals nine heirmoi with the final cadences of their last clauses having similar patterns of neume symbol arrangement and similar melodies in corresponding musical scores. The correlation between the earliest and latest melody types has been established. By obtaining the exact probability of occurring this kind of correspondence the strength of the relationship has been assessed. Based on the fact, that the probability obtained proved to be very small, the hypothesis of pure chance has been rejected. The following conclusion has been drawn: it is very likely that despite the faults of the oral transmission method mediaeval hymns safely reached the 19th century due to the non-interrupted musical tradition. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

chant, music, neumes, ecclesiastical

Kaynakça

• Gvakharia, Vaja. (1978). Miqael Modrekili – Gimny. Tbilisi: Sabchota Sakartvelo.
• Gvakharia, Vaja; Shugliashvili, David and Razmadze, Nino. (2013). Description of the Manuscripts and Alphabet Catalogue of Georgian Sacred Hymns, Tbilisi: Megobroba.
• Ingorokva, Pavle. (1958) “The Decipherment of Georgian Antique and Medieval Musical Notation and the Restoration of Old Georgian Music”. Journal Mnatobi. 2: 124-174.
• Oniani, Ekaterine. (2016) “On the Revealing the Basic Compositional Principe of Chants in Neumatic Notation”. Folk and Church Music Issues, Ed. Khatuna Managadze: pp. 91-106 Batumi.
• Tsereteli, Zaal. (2004). “The Possibility of Interpreting Ancient Georgian Musical Notation through 19th Century Transcriptions”. International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony. [Paper presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony on September 23-27, Tbilisi, Georgia] Tsurtsumia, Rusudan and Jordania, Josef (Eds.), (pp. 374-387). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HJkO-yaWNVYGfpIKVGsjtQSzaGEQIr-n/view
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