Joannes Koukouzeles

Master of kalophonic chant — the 'Maistor'

Called the Maistor — the Master — of Byzantine music. He reformed and enriched the chant tradition with elaborate kalophonic compositions that pushed melodic ornamentation to virtuosic heights, analogous to what Machaut achieved for Western polyphony in the same era.

Key works

• Kalophonic chants and cherubic hymns~1310-1350— Elaborate melismatic sacred music — the summit of Byzantine chant
  Score / performed in Orthodox liturgy

Connections

External