Summary
Patrinelis Ch.G, Contributions to the History of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Protopsaltae, Lambadarii and Domestikoi of the Great Church (1453-1821)
This paper is part of a larger study on the officials of the Great Church during the post- Byzantine period, and concerns specifically the Protopsaltae, the Lambadarii and the Domestikoi of the Great Church, i.e. the officials who served in the two choirs of the patriarchal church from 1453 to 1821. Although their role in the administration of the patriarchate was not particularly important, their significance as composers and continuators or even reformers of the Byzantine musical tradition was great. Most of them have left an impressive body of musical work, which represents the· best part of the post - Byzantine musical production in the Eastern Church.
The examination, however, of their musical work as such, is out of the scope of this paper. My purpose is to present as complete a namelist of the officials of these three ranks as possible, and to determine the e:irnct period of time during which each one held his office. It is evident that such precise information is indispensable for the students of the history of Byzantine music, for it can help in tracing accurately the last stages in the development of Byzantine music. Furthermore, knowledge of the time of activity and career of these post-Byzantine composers, provides us with sound terminus post quem for the dating of the musical mss. through which their works have been handed down to us.
The sources for this paper are several lite·rary texts of that period, patriarchal documents, and above all musical mss. kept in various collections. The monumental Theoretikon mega tes mousikes (Trieste 1832) by Chrysanthos of Madytos is also a useful source for the period c. 1780 - 1819. Works of modern scholars (M. Gedeon, G. Papadopoulos, S. Eustratiades etc.) are not very helpful, not only because they are dependent almost exclusively on Chrysanthos' Theoretikon, but also because they more or less lack documentation and critical spirit. As a rule, mistakes about persons, dates and events which appear in the older bibliography are not noted here. Some errors, however, that have come to be generally accepted as valid are discussed in paragraphs set in smaller characters.
A separate paragraph is devoted to each official, headed by his name and the dates which indicate his first and last mention in the sources as holder of the office.
The Choirs of the Great Church during the Post - Byzantine Period.
Contrary to what is commonly believed, there were no Protopsaltae and Lambadarii among the singers of the Great Church· during the Byzantine period. Several well-known composers who are mentioned as Protopsaltae or Lambadarii of the Great Church (or of St. Sophia.) in later musical mss. were just Protopsaltae or Lambadarii of the so-called "RoyalClergy". The leading singers of St. Sophia were called Domestikoi ton Psalton or simply Domestikoi, and sometimes they were also members of the "RoyaClergy".
After the Turkish conquest (1453) the main singers who formed the two choirs of the patriarchal church were the following :
1. The Protopsaltes who conducted the Right Choir. This office is mentioned for the first time in 1577.
2. The Lambadarios who led the Left Choir, and appears for the first time in 1575.
3. The two Domestikoi: the Domesticos of the Right Choir or First Domestikos, and the Domestikos of the Left Choir or Second Domestikos. They were both assistants of the Protopsaltes and the Lambadarios respectively and as such are mentioned for the first time in the 1720's.
A concise name and chronological Index of these musical officials concludes the paper.
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