Summary:
The form and content of Jacob’s the Protopsaltis [=first cantor] Doxastarion (1740-1800) is revealed when it dissolves in the latter. Reduction in simpler, includes both the external description of the structure (domus) and the deepening in the construction (architecture) of the chant.
The scientific method allowed the cataloging of the chants and the poetic texts, the notation’s analysis in formations (lines and positions [= formulae]), the comparison of old and new notation in tables, the identification of similar positions and the grouping of similar explanations. Data’s processing led to the crystallized version of some lines and positions, while attempting to deepen into individual theoretical issues that arise from the repertoire (triphone system, discordance, explanatory tactics, adornment, musical imitation of meaning).
Gritsani 17 codex (1795) is used as a reference, due to its oldness and protogenic characteristics, while cod. Koventarios 423 is used as an auxiliary. For comparisons between the old (transitional explanatory notation) and New Method, Chourmouzios explanations are employed, while the relation of Jacob with his descendants (Petros Byzantios and Petros Peloponnesios) is probed.
A key to understanding the old notation is to associate the explanation with the characters of quantity belonging to formations. Among the formations, the phrases and lines, sometimes, present such a compact rhythm-melodic unit as the formulae, to the extent that the explanation of the positions depends on their combination within the lines. In terms of formulae, each one’s explanation is based sometimes on the final buzz of the previous one, otherwise it is self-contained. Liquidation of the explanation between positions and duplication also belongs to the explanatory tactics.
Finally, Jacob's favorite tactic is to use for Doxatarion’s composition, the mixture of heirmological and sticherarical positions, as well as sticherarical positions notated more analytically, such as that of his musical descendants.
Keywords:
Jacob, Protopsaltes, structure, architecture, study