Is Byzantine Notation suitable for chanting in English?

[Pappous43]

Really? Because that's the conclusion I reached but most people I meet don't seem to agree with me. Is there some research on this, then, that you could point me to?

I cannot think of a specialised report on this subject.
In my 77 years of age I have read a number of such cases, in various disciplines, not limited to music only. Three examples in different fields will suffice to prove the point:
An article by a computer language expert in the 90s in the AS/400 Magazine on the selection of the best computer language: The conclusion was to use the computer language one knows best.
Architecture: Ancient Greek and Roman architecture was achieved by "primitive" instrument and tools. They did not have our fast electrical power tools.
Ancient Greek Music (and presumably of other countries too) was written, sung and developed to a high harmony using "primitive" interlinear notations e.g. as found in Delphi or other sites and is now being decoded and admired by researchers.

Having said that, I must say that I agree with Thomas above because:
I have personally first studied staff music up to some medium level. Then I studied B.M and I immediately found it much easier(!) more intuitive...
Just saying.....

 

[Pappous43]

It's possible I know your daughter - I have close links with Walsall Church (and Fr Stephen from Shrewsbury). Presbytera Georgina was the person who gave me indispensable support when I was first asked to start chanting entire Divine Liturgy services in English at Birmingham Cathedral about two years ago.

We are good friends with Fr.Stephen and Catherine from the 80s and we stayed with them when they had a little wooden Church in their Garden! Alice was then like 3 years old and Guy (now priest) was like 8 etc. Fr.John has more or less retired now and I suppose Georgina does not lead the choir any more. Of course she used staff notation only. All these four have visited us in Greece and the priests have concelebrated here partly in Greek and English.
My son-in-law took me to St.Luke in Birmingham twice about 3-4 years ago. The second time the priest's brother chanter was absent and they asked me to lead the choir. They sung totally Byzantine and in Greek. Big parish!

 

[Maria Juliane]

Poor Fr John is struggling in vain to retire, still doing half a dozen baptisms in a day with his bad shoulder! Amazon has a large base in Walsall, with many Romanian staff, who seem to have a lot of babies. I think he has another priest lined up but he's been locked down in Sheffield. Georgina is also still loosely leading the choir, which reassembled distantly last week for the first time in just over three months, and has offered me some of the Greek hymn books they don't use.

 

[Pappous43]

No offence taken from your use of 'flat' but I don't think it's technically correct. If you look up dictionary definitions of 'flat' (used as an adjective in the context of music) you will find the definition: "lower in pitch", whereas 'pure tone' is defined as "having single frequency and no overtones", which I think is what you mean. Also 'flat' in the context of pure tone tends to have the connotation of 'flat-lining' - as when a heart monitor indicates death!

Fair enough. Agreed, "having single frequency and no overtones".

 

[Pappous43]

Poor Fr John is struggling in vain to retire, still doing half a dozen baptisms in a day with his bad shoulder! Amazon has a large base in Walsall, with many Romanian staff, who seem to have a lot of babies. I think he has another priest lined up but he's been locked down in Sheffield. Georgina is also still loosely leading the choir, which reassembled distantly last week for the first time in just over three months, and has offered me some of the Greek hymn books they don't use.

Yes, Churches have been closed there for many weeks. My latest grandson Nikitas could only be baptised last week on Saturday (presumably by Fr.John, my daughter forgot to tell me).