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Manuscript Page with Greek Liturgy with Byzantine Greek Notation

Byzantine

Artwork Details

Manuscript Page with Greek Liturgy with Byzantine Greek Notation
18th-19th century
Byzantine
ink on glazed paper
7 7/8 x 5 9/16 in. (20 x 14.13 cm)
Museum Purchase
1959/1.150

Description

Subject Matter:

This page was cut from a musical book used in Orthodox Christian worship services. Each line contains neumes– a form of musical note– above Greek text. Rather than specifying a specific tone, the neumes are relational; they dictate the intervals between one note and the next. The large red letters indicate the opening word of a chant. 
The small title in red text on this page says “December.” The chants in this folio celebrate the feast of Christmas Day.

Usage Rights:

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