Khabuvy, Anenaiki: Singing Nonsense in 12th–17th Century Greek and Russian Orthodox Chant

• In Event: Cultural and Artistic Transmission between Byzantium and Medieval Rus’: Architecture, Iconography, Music

Abstract

“Khabuvy, anenaiki: singing nonsense in 12th–17th century Greek and Russian Orthodox chant”, is about the tradition of interpolating nonsense syllables in liturgical hymns. It examines the reception of this Byzantine tradition in the Slavic realm, where the syllables develop the peculiar function of representing the language of angels and demons, as demonstrated on the example of the Annunciation stichera, Blagovestvuyet Gavriil [Gabriel Announceth].

Author

• Anastasia Shmytova, Princeton U