Georgian Neumatic System in the Context of Orthodox Chant Tradition
Georgian Neumatic System in the Context of Orthodox Chant Tradition

Summary/Abstract: The Georgian neumatic notation represents one of the oldest phenomena in the musical paleography. The first neumatic examples are dated back at the latest of the 10th century, bearing absolutely original notation system: the neumes are placed above and below of the verbal text, not on each syllable but with intervals. The graphic signs above and below the text-line represent the variations displaced mirror-like. This paper is focused on general principles of the Georgian neumatic system, and on possible comparisons between this system and the Byzantine ekphonetic signs. The author also includes considerations about the sign Theta in Byzantine and Russian Church cultures, and its peculiarities in Georgian sources.

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