Talk:Canonarch

Definition of a Canonarch

The definition here cites only a non-scholarly source, with no substantiation. The position of canonarch had fallen into disuse, and too much is imputed from recent practice. The problem also occurs on the Greek Wikipedia, which provides the following (in total):

Κανονάρχης ονομάζεται το εκκλησιαστικό αξίωμα και ο τίτλος που δίδεται σε κατώτερο κληρικό (Ιεροψάλτη) ο οποίος κρατεί το Ισσοκράτημα δηλαδή δίνει τη μουσική βάση πάνω στην οποία θα ψάλει ο ψάλτης η ο Πρωτοψάλτης.

Translation: Canonarch is the name of the church rank and the title given to minor clergy (Hiero-psalmist) who holds the Isocratema, that is, he gives the musical tonic note upon which the psalmist or Proto-psalmist will chant.

This essentially equates the canonarch with an isocrator.

Several sources should be consulted, including a careful reading of Johann von Gardner "Russian Church Singing" (vol. i and ii).

Also, a source worth noting is Vladimir Morosan's "Choral Performance in Pre-Revolutionary Russia", which reads that a canonarch is one who ensures that "the readings and hymns were performed in the proper order and determining the melody and style of performance (soloistic, antiphonal, responsorial, etc.) in which a given hymn would be sung.”

Earlier references to the canonarch and its development is in needed. There is this by the Oliver Strunk in "Intonations and Signatures of the Byzantine Modes", reprinted in "Essays in Byzantine Music in the New World", p. 35: "the singing by a choir of a Byzantine Sticheron, Heirmos, or Troparion is usually preceded by the choral recitation of a verse (στίχος) taken from a Psalm or from a Canticle. In such cases, the formula of intonation, sung by a solo singer, the Canonarch or Protopsaltes, serves as a link connecting the verse with the chant that follows."

Alex Lingas' article, "From Earth to Heaven: The Changing Musical Soundscape of Byzantine Liturgy", in Experiencing Byzantium: Papers from the 44th Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, New Castle and Duram, April 2011, indicates that "choirs were assisted in their renditions of hymns by a canonarch, an official whose role was to prompt them audibly from a scroll or book with their next line of text, a practice similar to 'lining out' in some Protestant traditions of hymnody"(p. 342.)

A good summary can be found here: http://www.synaxis.info/psalom/research/simmons/canonarch.html; although it is overly reliant on Russian sources and the early connection with the intonation formulae is passed over.

A good treatment of the origin of the office would be important for placing it historical context for its revival today.

Tachypaidia (talk) 04:24, 10 March 2014 (UTC)