The development of the Armenian Mekhitarist chant: transcribed materials and oral tradition

Abstract

After centuries of being passed on by oral tradition, the Mekhitarist traditional chanting was transcribed by Fr. Ghevond Talyan in the middle of the XX century. With the seven volumes of this Sharaknoc (Hymnary), the greater part of canonic sharakans (Hymns) have reached us, as well as some newly composed šarakans, which are specific for the region. Nevertheless, in practice we see that sacred music, even after being transcribed, continues being passed on via oral tradition. In my paper, I present a comparison of the Sharaknoc materials and the contemporary performances of spiritual music.