Ongoing developments in Greek music resulted in the appearance of the ‘kalophonic’ (beautiful-sounding) style of chant. The names of many of the most prominent composers of this style were recorded in manuscripts, in contrast to the composers of earlier Greek music. This sticherarion (liturgical volume containing musical notation) exemplifies the new kalophonic style, which was recorded in a more elaborate and complex notation style.
The manuscript is written on paper. It was created in Greece in the 16th or 17th century, and came into the possession of the physician Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753). His great collection of manuscripts and artefacts was purchased at his death from his executors by the Act of Parliament which also established the British Museum.
Public Domain in most countries other than the UK.
Music has played a central role in Greek Orthodox services for centuries. Nicolas Bell describes the manuscript evidence for this music in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine eras.
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