List of Byzantine composers

John of Damascus (c. 675 – c. 749), who was a major proponent of 8th century kanōns and the supposed creator of the octoechos

Musical traditions flourished throughout the Byzantine Empire (AD 330 to 1453) in both sacred and secular contexts.[1][2][n 1] Secular composers, subject to the criticism of Church Fathers and a dearth of extant sources, are unrecorded until the late 13th century during the Palaiologos period.[2] Conversely, composers of religious music, known as hymnographers, are better known, and major figures are recorded throughout most of the empire's entire history.[1] In both cases, like their medieval Western contemporaries, the biographical details of composers beyond their names and works are often scarce or nonexistent.[4]

Before the reign of Justinian I (527–565), few specific personalities are recorded.[5] The earliest, brothers Anthimos and Timokles, appear to have been important composers of troparia, but their work does not survive. The Byzantine tradition's first major form was the kontakion, of which Romanos the Melodist was the foremost composer. By the late 7th century the kanōn dominated in popularity; Andrew of Crete became its first significant composer, followed by John of Damascus and Cosmas of Maiuma, and later Theodore of Stoudios and Theophanes the Branded.[1] The first secular composers are known only in the empire's final centuries, with Joannes Glykys, Joannes Koukouzeles, Xenos Korones emerging as leading figures. Partly due to the little information available, many modern studies of Byzantine music pay little attention to specific composers.[6]

The recorded Byzantine composers were primarily men.[4] The best known woman was Kassia, a prolific and important composer of sticheron hymns and the only woman whose works entered the Byzantine liturgy.[7] A few other women are known to have been composers, Thekla, Theodosia, Martha and the daughter of John Kladas (her given name is unrecorded).[8] Aside from Kassia, only the daughter of John Kladas has any surviving work, a single antiphon.[9] Some Byzantine emperors are known to have been composers, such as Leo VI the Wise, Constantine VII and possibly John III Doukas Vatatzes.[10]

Byzantine composers

Byzantine composers
Name Lifetime Extant works Remarks
Anthimos fl. mid-5th century Supposedly composed troparia; attributions unknown and none survive Active during the reign of Leo I (457–474), the brothers Anthimos and Timokles are among the earliest known Byzantine composers by name. They are only recorded by Theodorus Lector (fl. 6th century) in an excerpt preserved by Nikephoros Kallistos, whose brief reference to them as composers of troparia may suggest the brothers were already well-known to his readers.[n 2] Apparently Anthimos was a monophysite who supported the Council of Chalcedon, while the Orthodox Timokles did not.[12][13][5]
Timokles
Auxentios fl. 5th century The text to a single troparion survives (attribution uncertain); said to have composed others A biography on Auxentios attributes the composition of a troparion to him[5][14][13]
Anatolius of Constantinople Died 458 A few hymns –[15][16]
Severus of Antioch 465–538 Many hymns [17][18]
John bar Aphtonia c. 480 – c. 537 A few hymns His hymns bare similarities to those of Severus of Antioch, whom he wrote a biography on[19][20]
Romanos the Melodist late 5th century – after 550 About 60 of the 85 kontakion attributed to him are considered authentic The preeminent kontakion composer of his time[21]
Kyriakos fl. 6th century No works survive Contemporary of Romanos[22]
Anastasius fl. 6th century No works survive A composer recorded as "Anastasius" is thought to be a 6th century Byzantine emperor, either Anastasius I Dicorus (c. 431 – 9 July 518) or Anastasios II (Died 719). Contemporary of Romanos[22]
Germanus I c. 634 – c. 733 Various kanōns are attributed to him If authentic, his kanōns would be earlier than those of Andrew of Crete and thus confirm Andrew is not the genre's originator[23][24]
Andrew of Crete c. 660 – c. 740 Hymns, primarily kanōns[25] Best known for his Great Kanōn, a 250 stanza hymn. Traditionally credited with inventing the kanōn, though modern scholars doubt this[26][23]
John of Damascus
(John Damascene)		 c. 675 – c. 749 Many kanōns and troparia. Traditionally credited with inventing the octoechos, though modern scholars doubt this A close colleague of Cosmas of Maiuma[27]
Cosmas of Maiuma
(Kosmas of Jerusalem)		 fl. early 8th century Various kanōns, sticheron, idiomelas and triōdias A close colleague of John of Damascus[28]
Stephen the Sabaite Died 807 Idiomelas in the Triodion, Kanōns [29]
Theodore the Studite 759 – 826 Various kanōns Kept a letter correspondence with Kassia; brother of Joseph the Confessor[23][30]
Joseph the Confessor fl. 9th century Troparia, sticheron and kanōns Brother of Theodore the Studite[31]
Theophanes the Branded 775 – 845 Kanōns for saints and his brother, Theodorus. Contributed to the Parakletike[23][32]
Kassia 805/810 – 865/867 More than 50 liturgical works, primarily stichera. 26 have disputed authenticity The only woman Byzantine composer whose work is included in the Byzantine liturgy. The most important and renowned woman in Byzantine music. She had a letter correspondence with Theodore the Studite[33][34]
Joseph the Hymnographer c. 816 – 886 Various kanōns, of which 525 survive. Contributed to the Parakletike[35][36]
Thekla fl. 9th century No works survive Known to have written now lost kanōns[37]
Theodosia fl. 9th century No works survive Known to have written now lost kanōns. She was an abbess who lived near Constantinople[38]
Leo VI the Wise 866 – 912 Hymns for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross Was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912[39]
Martha fl. End of the 9th century No works survive Abbess and mother of Simeon Stylites[37]
Constantine VII 905 – 959 11 exaposteilaria anastasima and 3 sticheron Was Byzantine emperor from 908 until 959 (co-emperor until 945)[40]
Joannes Glykys fl. Late 13th century Chant and psalms Purportedly the teacher of Korones and Koukouzeles[41]
Nikephoros Ethikos fl. c. 1300 Liturgical chants; 40 survive His works are far more stylistically conservative than those of his contemporaries[42]
Gregorios Glykys fl. c. 1300 Liturgical chants; only a few survive, including a sticheron Had the post of domestikos (in a musical context meaning "first singer of the left choir")[43]
John Koukouzeles fl. 1300–50 Many chants One of the most illustrious musicians of his time; known as the "second source of Greek music" (John of Damascus being the first)[44]
Xenos Korones fl. 1325–50 Chants [45]
John Kladas fl. 1400 Virtually every sacred genre of his time He was particularly prolific and his daughter seems to have been a composer as well[46][47]
Daughter of John Kladas fl. 1400 A single antiphon is attributed to her Her given name is unknown; recorded only as the daughter of John Kladas[47][34]
John Laskaris fl. first half of 15th century Not particularly prolific; Also a music theorist[48]
Manuel Chrysaphes fl. 1440–1463 A large amount of hymns, chants, kratēmata, mathēmata and anagrammatismoi among others An extremely prolific composer; John VIII Palaiologos and Constantine XI Palaiologos were patrons of his music.[49][n 3]
John Vatatzes fl. mid 15th century Long assumed to be the emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes, though this is no firm evidence for this[50]
Janus Plousiadenos c. 1429–1500 [51]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Even after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 the Byzantine musical tradition continued in the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople through figures such as Panagiotes the New Chrysaphes, Petros Bereketis, Petros Peloponnesios, and Chrysanthos of Madytos,[1][2] as well as Serbians such as Kir Stefan, Isaiah, Nikola and Kir Joakim.[3]
  2. ↑ Byzantinist Gregory Tucker remarks that "Theodore's rudimentary notice must have made sense in context, otherwise it would have been necessary to supply further details; we can therefore be confident not only that troparia were being composed in Constantinople at this time but also that some troparia were associated with the immediately recognisable names of their composers".[11]
  3. ↑ He was also a noted music theorist, writing the treatise Peri tōn entheōroumenōn tē psaltikē technē kai hōn phronousi kakōs tines peri autōn which contains extensive and otherwise unknown information on contemporary Byzantine music, practice and theory.[49]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Levy 2001.
  2. 1 2 3 Touliatos 2001.
  3. ↑ Randel, Don Michael, ed. (2003). The Harvard Dictionary of Music. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 751, 771. ISBN 978-0-674-01163-2.
  4. 1 2 Touliatos-Banker 1984, p. 62.
  5. 1 2 3 Metcalfe 1898, p. 302.
  6. ↑ Velimirović 1978, p. 818.
  7. ↑ Mellas 2020, pp. 147–148.
  8. ↑ Touliatos-Banker 1984, pp. 64, 80.
  9. ↑ Touliatos-Banker 1984, p. 64.
  10. ↑ Kalaitzidis & Apostolopoulos 2015, §2 "Prominent Personalities".
  11. ↑ Tucker 2023, p. 30.
  12. ↑ Tucker 2023, pp. 29–30, 553.
  13. 1 2 Troelsgård, Christian (2001). "Troparion". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.28455. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  14. ↑ Werner, Eric (1976). Contributions to a Historical Study of Jewish Music. Brooklyn: Ktav Publishing House. pp. 16–17.
  15. ↑ Strong, James; McClintock, John (1880). "Anatolius of Constantinople". Cyclopædia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. New York: Harper and Brothers. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  16. ↑ Wellesz 1961, p. 442.
  17. ↑ Youssef, Youhanna Nessim (2016). "Hymns of Severus of Antioch and the Coptic Theotokia" (PDF). In D'Alton, John; Youssef, Youhanna Nessim (eds.). Severus of Antioch: His Life and Times. Leiden: Brill Publishers. ISBN 978-90-04-30799-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-10-17.
  18. ↑ Wolfram, Gerda (2001). "Severus of Antioch". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.25529. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  19. ↑ Watt, John W. (2018). "John bar Aphtonia". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity, Volume 2: J–Z. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 819–820. ISBN 978-0-19-881625-6.
  20. ↑ Childers, Jeff W. (2011). "John bar Aphtonia (d. 537)". In Sebastian P. Brock; Aaron M. Butts; George A. Kiraz; Lucas Van Rompay (eds.). Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition. Gorgias Press.
  21. ↑ Engberg, Gudrun (2001). "Romanos the Melodist". Grove Music Online. Revised by Alexander Lingas. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.23748. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  22. 1 2 Kucharek, Casimir A. (1971). The Byzantine-Slav Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Its Origin and Evolution. Combermere: Alleluia Press. p. 394. ISBN 978-0-911726-06-0.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Velimirović, Miloš (2001). "Kanōn". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.14677. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  24. ↑ Jeffery, Peter (2001). "The Earliest Oktōēchoi: The Role of Jerusalem and Palestine in the Beginnings of Modal Ordering". In Jeffery, Peter (ed.). The Study of Medieval Chant: Paths and Bridges, East and West. Suffolk: Boydell Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-85115-800-6.
  25. ↑ Mellas 2020, p. 115.
  26. ↑ Follieri, Enrica (2001). "Andrew of Crete". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.00894. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  27. ↑ Follieri, Enrica (2001). "John Damascene". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.14388. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  28. ↑ Follieri, Enrica (2001). "Kosmas of Jerusalem". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.15408. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  29. ↑ Patrich 2001, p. 11.
  30. ↑ Thomas, John Philip; Hero, Angela Constantinides, eds. (2000). Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents: A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founders' Typika and Testaments. Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. pp. 85. ISBN 978-0-88402-232-9.
  31. ↑ "Saint Joseph, Bishop of Thessalonica, and brother of Saint Theodore of Studion". Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  32. ↑ Patrich 2001, p. 174.
  33. ↑ Touliatos, Diane (2001b). "Kassia". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.40895. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  34. 1 2 Touliatos 1996, p. 1.
  35. ↑ Toma, Paraskevi, ed. (2018). The Sabaite Heritage in the Orthodox Church from the Fifth Century to the Present. Münster: LIT Verlag. pp. xxi–xxii. ISBN 978-3-643-90995-4.
  36. ↑ Jeffery, Peter (2001). "Oktōēchos". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.50097. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  37. 1 2 Touliatos-Banker 1984, p. 80.
  38. ↑ Touliatos, Diane (1995). "The Traditional Role of Greek Women in Music from Antiquity to the End of the Byzantine Empire". In Marshall, Kimberly (ed.). Rediscovering the Muses: Women's Musical Traditions. Boston: Northeastern University Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-55553-219-2.
  39. ↑ Cartwright, Mark (2017). "Leo VI". World History Encyclopedia. Horsham: World History Encyclopedia.
  40. ↑ Troelsgård, Christian (2001). "Constantine VII Porphyrogennetus". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.06331. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  41. ↑ Williams, Edward V. (2001). "Glykys, Joannes". Grove Music Online. Revised by Christian Troelsgård. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.11306. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  42. ↑ Williams, Edward V. (2001). "Ethikos, Nikephoros". Grove Music Online. Revised by Christian Troelsgård. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.09050. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  43. ↑ "Glykys, Gregorios". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2001. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.11305. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  44. ↑ Williams, Edward V. (2001). "Koukouzeles [Papadopoulos], Joannes". Grove Music Online. Revised by Christian Troelsgård. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.15428. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  45. ↑ Troelsgård, Christian (2001). "Korones, Xenos". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.51928. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  46. ↑ Williams, Edward V. (2001). "Kladas [Lampadarios], Joannes". Grove Music Online. Revised by Christian Troelsgård. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.15917. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  47. 1 2 Touliatos-Banker 1984, p. 63.
  48. ↑ Conomos, Dimitri E. (2005) [1991]. "Laskaris, John". In Kazhdan, Alexander (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6. (subscription required)
  49. 1 2 Conomos, Dimitri E. (2001). "Chrysaphes, Manuel". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05722. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
  50. ↑ Velimirović 1978, pp. 819–821.
  51. ↑ Conomos 1982, pp. 2–4.

Sources

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