Orthodox Chants from Cyprus

An event dedicated to the Orthodox church music tradition of Cyprus, which constitutes a separate chapter in the broader Hellenic world as a spiritual and artistic expression of Byzantine and post-Byzantine culture.

The distinctive tradition of Cyprus, which exhibits quite a few similarities but also specifics and important differences from the traditions of other centres of Orthodox music, will be presented by the Doctor of Musicology from the Vienna University, Christiana Demetriou.

The extensive research of Dr. Demetriou on the church music heritage of Cyprus brought to light chants by Cypriot composers from the 14th century onwards, which will be performed live in an event of both scholarly and artistic nature, which seeks to highlight the best examples of Byzantine and post-Byzantine church music creation in Cyprus, as well as to give new live to less-known compositions by Cypriot melodists.

The programme of the event includes historical chants by Cypriot composers from the 14th to the 20th century, which are no longer performed in contemporary liturgical practice: compositions by Nikolaos Asan, by an anonymous “domestic from Cyprus”, by Nikolaos Taratzoglou, Meletios Syncellus of Larnaka, Stylianos Hourmouzios, Oikonomos Charalambous, Dionysios of Machaira and Kyriakos Psaltes of Exo Metochi.

Roman the Melodist Byzantine Choir
Choir master: Father Nikolaos Lymbourides
Speaker: Dr. Christiana Demetriou