On the working process in writing of the Neumed book and its function in the Byzantine chant tradition: The contribution to the methodology of music literacy phenomenon

Abstract

The paper represents a kind of contribution to the methodology considering the phenomenon of music literacy. It suggests some guidelines to be observed for future research. Acquired findings of the main reasons for the emergence of the Neum notation as well as of the shaping process of the chanting book during the first stage of the written musical tradition (from the end of the 10th to the middle of the 11th centuries) served as a starting point, but it was pointed out who might have been a scribal team member, what professional qualification he was expected to have and what was an organization of rewriting process like, depending on type of manuscripts that served as copying models. An interpretation of chanting book function was also presented and its main purpose in liturgical life practice after the establishing of the middle Byzantine Neum notation.

Keywords

• music literacy
• church chant
• manuscript
• Neum notation
• scribe
• chanter