6. Common Chants (Non-Byzantine chant traditions)
This genre of hymnography is comprised of simple melodies which are entirely outside the 8-Tone system, including:
a) Liturgical Dialogue (litanies, the dialogues during the Divine Liturgy,
and whenever the priest gives blessings or wishes peace to the people),
b) settings of hymns for the Doxology at Matins,
c) "O only-begotten Son" and the Creed at the Divine Liturgy,
d) etc.
1) Byzantine Chant Tradition (etc.)
Generally speaking, Byzantine
Chant does not have "Common Chant" melodies, as every almost aspect of the repertoire is based on the
system of 8 Modes, no matter how complex or simple. It is possible to classify almost every melodic pattern and vocal technique heard in the Byzantine Chant tradition according to its extremely evolved musical theory.
2) All Other Chant Traditions
Russian Znamenny Tradition (etc.)
This genre includes liturgical
dialogue (litanies, the dialogues during the Divine Liturgy, and whenever
the priest gives blessings or wishes peace to the people), settings of hymns
for the Doxology at Matins, and "O only-begotten Son" and the
Creed at the Divine Liturgy, etc. None of this repertoire seems to be directly
derived from any Byzantine prototypes, undoubtedly because of the fluid
nature of such music accompanying various liturgical moments. Numerous musicologists
have theorized about the influence of folksong, and certainly it seems plausable.
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