Бележки за музикално образование по българските земи през XV век
Notes on musical education in Bulgarian lands during the fifteenth century

Summary/Abstract: One of the valuable Bulgarian musical sources of the 15th century, the so-called Rila musical notes, is in the focus of the article. It is a unique document in teaching on church music during the late-Byzantine period. More than 25 neume signs along with some of their combinations are read in the source and discussed in the study. The basic term used is “quiver in the throat”. It is suggested that the notes were written by Vladislav the Grammarian in Rila monastery when he moved there after 1469. The Rila musical notes reveal a great closeness to two important manuscripts that were in use in the same area, N 928 from the National library in Athens, and N 93 from the National library in Belgrade. The three sources show the efforts of maintaining the church singing on a high level. Some of the most distinguished men of letters took part in the maintaining this level – Vladislav the Grammarian, Nikola the Serb, Isaja the Serb and Dimitar Kantakuzin. The sources discussed are extremely valuable evidence of education in the field of church music in a very tough time when the Balkan Orthodox countries have lost their political freedom and the Christian faith had to be preserved.

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