BYZANTINE HYMN “Truly it is Right…( Ἄξιόν ἐστιν …)” Tone/Mode 5. Played on a Chromatic Lyre Harp
Instrument: Brandon John Luthiery 23-string Chromatic Lyre https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrandonJohnLuthiery .
Played on the Lyre Harp by Christine Kerxhalli
Website: https://mylyremusic.wordpress.com
Byzantine Tones Course Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJUgHxb9RO14
Byzantine Music Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98bTeh0dciwET1eSRKDk81wfJt3YwrgN
INTRODUCTION – A Chromatic Lyre guide to the Byzantine Musical System using Western Musical notation: https://youtu.be/MxeCRfk5k1o
Reference document by Stanley J Takis, New Byzantine Publications, https://newbyz.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/7/1/147110798/name_that_tone.pdf
Lyrics:
Truly, it is right to call you(thee) bless’d, and we bless you(thee), O Theotokos Maiden who is(art) ever blest and who has known no blame, you are(thou art) truly the Mother of our God. Higher still in honor than the Cherubim, and you are(thou art) beyond compare far more glorious than the Seraphim. You(Thou), without corruption has(hast) given birth unto God, the Word. Truly Theotokos, you(thee)do we magnify!
Ἄξιόν ἐστιν ὡς ἀληθῶς μακαρίζειν σε τὴν Θεοτόκον, τὴν ἀειμακάριστον καὶ παναμώμητον καὶ μητέρα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν. Τὴν τιμιωτέραν τῶν Χερουβεὶμ καὶ ἐνδοξοτέραν ἀσυγκρίτως τῶν Σεραφείμ, τὴν ἀδιαφθόρως Θεὸν Λόγον τεκοῦσαν, τὴν ὄντως Θεοτόκον, σὲ μεγαλύνομεν.
Music Source: https://newbyz.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/7/1/147110798/liturgy_book_goaa_chant.pdf- pp 64-65
To learn to play the Lyre Harp and Read Western Music notation, the following teachers are recommended:
Sharon Brownell of Learning the Lyre Harp https://www.patreon.com/c/learningthelyreharp/posts
Catherine Guilbeau of Enfolded Heart https://www.patreon.com/cw/enfoldedheartmusic
If you are interested in really learning the art of Byzantine Chant, the following link provides authentic Byzantine Chant instruction in the tradition of the (Christian Orthodox) Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Michael Tsiappoutas, PhD is providing this valuable training free of charge in English to help those who want to learn but one does need to have the ability to read Greek to chant the lyrics of the music . The link follows: https://www.patriarchalpsaltophiles.org The book to accompany this instruction is entitled, Psaltic Method. A Greek Byzantine Liturgy Chant Primer by Michael Tsiappoutas, PhD. It is free to download at this link: https://www.patriarchalpsaltophiles.org/book If you wish to purchase a physical book, it is available on Amazon. Lessons are free on YouTube: https://www.patriarchalpsaltophiles.org/lessons
