Peter Byzantios

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Peter Byzantios, also Petros Byzantios the Fugitive, was a composer of Greek Orthodox church music for chanters and, from 1802 to 1804, the Archcantor of the Great Church of the Church of Constantinople.

Life

Peter Byzantios was born in the eighteenth century in Neochorion of Bosphorus. Little else is known of his early life. He was a pupil of Peter the Peloponnesian. Peter Byzantios began to compose his own works based on the musical scripture of his teacher, which he also used to 'explain' many lessons written in Koukkouzeles' twelfth century notation[1].

Peter composed a series of cherubic hymns, that is, one in each mode, and three series of communion hymns, and Praises (Αἰνεῖτε) for Sundays. His cherubic hymns and one series of his communion hymn compositions were published in various anthologies under the name of Petros the Byzantios, and his shorter communion hymns under the name of John the Lambadarios. He also wrote short Heirmologion, katavasias, a doxology, kekragaria, praises of medium length, and other lessons with the author annotated the student (of Petros the Peloponnesian).

In 1802, Peter was appointed Archcantor of the Great Church. However, because he took a second marriage, Peter was terminated in 1804 as archcantor by Patriarch Callinicus V, as cantors of the Great Church were not allowed to have a second marriage. Following his dismissal he fled to Chersona, and thus acquired the title Fugitive. Later, he moved again to Iasion in Thrace, where he died in 1808.

After his death, much of his early works were sold to the Patriarchal Musical School that was founded in 1815 together with his other manuscripts.

Sources