As we know, the harmonization & "westernization" that began in the 1800s and really took hold throughout Greece in the early 1900s has now been almost completely replaced by traditional Byzantine Chant, which it almost extinguished in many places.
However, in the United States and Canada, Greek-American parishes and choirs still absolutely love the work of some of the Greek composers from the Ionian Islands, as well as that of John Sakellarides and the Greek-American composers who followed in his footsteps (eg. Frank Desby, Nicholas Roubanis, Theodore Bogdanos, Tikey Zes etc...). Part of this was the reality that very few professionally trained chanters (only praktikoi) existed in the Americas until the latter-half of the 20th Century. The praktikoi that did chant often did so poorly, while all the trained musicians joined the parish choirs and various regional Choir Federations; which always pushed polyphonic music over Byzantine Chant. They also alienated many of the chanters, regarding Byzantine Chant as too foreign and not "American" enough for the Greek parishes.
So while the Patriarchate & Greece had a resurgence of traditional Byzantine Chant, and eventually saw the near extinction of polyphonic music; the latter continued to grow in popularity in America.
I'm speaking from my own personal bias, which I hold as a convert to Orthodoxy, and a neophyte to Byzantine Chant. That bias being a strong dislike for anything that attempts to "Westernize" Orthodox music, especially Byzantine Chant. I personally have grown to strongly dislike Sakellarides and anything resembling his work. I see it as a threat to the future of Byzantine Chant in America (as allowing polyphony would permit future generations to harmonize traditional Byzantine melodies).
Though I've also seen a wide range of opinions float around the American contingent of traditional chanters about the place of polyphonic music in Orthodox liturgical worship. The opinions are wide-ranging, some are strongly opposed to it, others being in favor (though still saying they prefer Byzantine Chant), while others are indifferent.
Then, I also see the arguments by some of the people in America who are strong supporters of polyphony, or even supporters of continuing to use Sakellarides' music. One of the arguments even using a quote by Chourmouzios Chartophylax (on adapting melodies to regional customs) to support Westernization & Harmonization of Byzantine Chant. Others using the existence of polyphony on the Ionian Islands and elsewhere (prior to even the New Method) as justification for it's use. While still others cite old manuscripts of Byzantine Chant that occasionally inserted a "third part" (triphony) to add color to a piece, as justification for the legitimacy of harmonization.
What I want to know, is what did the traditional/mainstream community of chanters think and say about the harmonization of Byzantine Chant and the polyphonic practices being utilized in some parts of Greece, and as promoted (or enforced) by some of the state monarchs & ecclesiastical hierarchs? What were their opinions of John Sakellarides' and the other composers who were also attempting to harmonize and/or "simplify" Byzantine Chant?
However, in the United States and Canada, Greek-American parishes and choirs still absolutely love the work of some of the Greek composers from the Ionian Islands, as well as that of John Sakellarides and the Greek-American composers who followed in his footsteps (eg. Frank Desby, Nicholas Roubanis, Theodore Bogdanos, Tikey Zes etc...). Part of this was the reality that very few professionally trained chanters (only praktikoi) existed in the Americas until the latter-half of the 20th Century. The praktikoi that did chant often did so poorly, while all the trained musicians joined the parish choirs and various regional Choir Federations; which always pushed polyphonic music over Byzantine Chant. They also alienated many of the chanters, regarding Byzantine Chant as too foreign and not "American" enough for the Greek parishes.
So while the Patriarchate & Greece had a resurgence of traditional Byzantine Chant, and eventually saw the near extinction of polyphonic music; the latter continued to grow in popularity in America.
I'm speaking from my own personal bias, which I hold as a convert to Orthodoxy, and a neophyte to Byzantine Chant. That bias being a strong dislike for anything that attempts to "Westernize" Orthodox music, especially Byzantine Chant. I personally have grown to strongly dislike Sakellarides and anything resembling his work. I see it as a threat to the future of Byzantine Chant in America (as allowing polyphony would permit future generations to harmonize traditional Byzantine melodies).
Though I've also seen a wide range of opinions float around the American contingent of traditional chanters about the place of polyphonic music in Orthodox liturgical worship. The opinions are wide-ranging, some are strongly opposed to it, others being in favor (though still saying they prefer Byzantine Chant), while others are indifferent.
Then, I also see the arguments by some of the people in America who are strong supporters of polyphony, or even supporters of continuing to use Sakellarides' music. One of the arguments even using a quote by Chourmouzios Chartophylax (on adapting melodies to regional customs) to support Westernization & Harmonization of Byzantine Chant. Others using the existence of polyphony on the Ionian Islands and elsewhere (prior to even the New Method) as justification for it's use. While still others cite old manuscripts of Byzantine Chant that occasionally inserted a "third part" (triphony) to add color to a piece, as justification for the legitimacy of harmonization.
What I want to know, is what did the traditional/mainstream community of chanters think and say about the harmonization of Byzantine Chant and the polyphonic practices being utilized in some parts of Greece, and as promoted (or enforced) by some of the state monarchs & ecclesiastical hierarchs? What were their opinions of John Sakellarides' and the other composers who were also attempting to harmonize and/or "simplify" Byzantine Chant?