Chronos ensemble - Old Russian Polyphony of Pentacost

The original score was written in Old Russian “Kazan“ neumatic notation. It was deciphered by Evgeny Skurat. This kind of music is so-called “Strocnoy polyphony“. This style was formed in late XVth century in Novgorod. It was set in Moscow kingdom during the reign if Tsar John the Terrible. The highest flourishing of this music occurred in the mid XVIIth century. The source of Strochnoy polyphony is a Znamenny chant, which was modified to a slower tempo and become “Putevoy“ (Leading the way) chant. The simplification and slowdown of Znamenny melody gives opportunity for other voices (Lower and Higher) to be in contact with cantus firmus by performing rather melismatic (virtuoso) patterns. Like in original Znamenny chant the Strochnoy polyphony consists of musical formulas of Russian Octoechos. This particular chant was composed in a 4th Tone. It is a hymn for a Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Light and Life, and a living, noetic Fountain, a Spirit of wisdom, a Spirit of understanding; a good, an upright, a noetic Spirit, presiding in power and purging offenses. Deity and deifier; He is Fire, issuing from Fire, speaking, working, distributing the gifts; through Whom all the Prophets, and the Apostles of God, and all the Martyrs received their crowns. Strange is this report, strange and new this sight, a Fire divided that these gifts may be apportioned.