Associate professor
Sector of sound technology, music pedagogy and byzantine musicology
Tel.:0030 2107277937
Room: 927
Floor: 9th
Contact: Thursday 12.00 - 15.00, Friday 12.00 - 14.00.
email: thapstlplos@music.uoa.gr
Studies
• B.A., School of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1985).
• Master Degree in the field of History, Philosophy and Sociology of Law “The ecclesiastical music in the Church Law”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1990)
• PhD in Musicology: Apostolos Konstas of Chios and his contribution to the Theory of music art. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1997)
• Degree of Byzantine Music, (1984).
• Diploma of Byzantine Music, (1992).
Academic Career
• Music high school of Thessaloniki and Giannitsa: Byzantine music, οud, demotic song and traditional orchestra (1992-2003).
• School of Byzantine and traditional music “En Chordais”: Byzantine music, oud and Theory of Greek traditional music (1993-2008).
• University of Macedonia: Demotic music, Greek traditional instruments and traditional music groups (1999-2003).
• At many odium seminars, Byzantine Music Schools, seminars for teachers in middle education, etc. Current position: Assistant Professor at the Music Studies Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (from April 2009) - teaching since 2011 (Theory of Psaltic art as well as issues about the relations between the Byzantine Music and the secular music of East Mediterranean traditions at the NKUA).
Research interests
The research interests of Thomas Apostolopoulos, as they are reflected in his scientific work, include the Chanting (Psaltike), the Greek Folk Music, the Learned Music of Constantinople, the Greek instrumentation, the secular repertoire written by Parasementike (Byzantine notation), general records of Folk tradition, the relations of Psaltike (Chanting) with other traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean, discographic edits, and especially the issue of Greek music theory and the field of Exegesis (explanation and transcription) of Chanting and secular music from the manuscripts of the Old stenographic Method of Byzantine notation in the New Method. OTHER Coordinator in Theory Workgroup of MediMuses project in the framework of the Euromed Heritage II program of European Union (February 2002 - July 2005) with research, artistic and educational activities in 13 countries in Europe and the Mediterranean. Member of the Committee of Hellenic Ministry of Culture, which works on the legal recognition of traditional music instruments. More than 40 other publications concern the Byzantine music, the Greek traditional folk music, the Art Music of Constantinople in historical, theoretical, morphological and instrumental issues. Transcription of 15 pieces from Old Byzantine Music stenographic notation. Supervision of six CD editions (“En Chordais”, Aegean University etc.)
Courses
Ι. ECHOI AND EASTERN MODAL SYSTEMS
The Byzantine Music or “Psaltiki” and the Greek traditional music in general is part of a wider group of musical traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean which have common musical features. One of the greatest targets of the course is the perception of the theoretical analysis in terms and principles that originated in the ancient Greek music theory, evolved during the Byzantine era and disseminated by the interaction with the neighbouring cultures (Arabs, Persians, Ottomans, Slavs, etc.). The most important and extensive part of the Greek theory is the modality, which, in Byzantine Chant tradition that survived until nowadays, is expressed by the so-called Echos. In this course essential elements of the Theory of Psaltic and the Greek traditional music, as well as a basic description of the principal Echos are taught. Ancillary book: D. Giannelos, Syntomo theoritico (Brief theoreticon) of Byzantine music. Notes by the professor provided. The course also uses acoustic psaltic examples.
ΙΙ. SECULAR REPERTORY IN BYZANTINE PARASEMANTIKE
By using the notation of the Byzantine Music, an important volume of secular repertory was set down, apart from the Psaltic pieces. This repertory mostly concerns the so-called Learned (“savant”) Music of Constantinople, in Arabo-persian forms, and so far it counts more or less 4.500 pages of records on the manuscripts of Psaltike, and almost 2.500 pages of printed editions. Moreover , the school ditty repertory was set down towards the end of the 19th century, and a considerable amount of records particularly in the 20th century regards the Greek folk song. This material, except for its importance concerning both the study of the Greek music History and the relation between the Psaltic and the secular species of music, is nowadays a prominent source for the peripheral tradition of the Eastern Mediterranean, in terms of antiquity and data availability. In the class there will be a presentation of the most important sources as well as specific issues which come in, such as Historical Musicology,Theory and “Exegesis” of secular compositions from the Old Parasemantice. Notes by the professor are provided.
ΙII. PSALTIC ART AND HELLENIC DEMOTIC MUSIC
The musical relationship between the two fields has been noted many times in the past. Having considered briefly the points of contact between the two areas (language, variety of intervals, modality, synthesis’s techniques, anthropological factors etc.) and the main differences (use of instruments, secular or not character, a variety of local traditions etc.), the depth and the extent of this relationship with the criterion of modal analysis is further explored. Focusing on basic divisions and branches of Oktaechia, representative pieces of folk music of the major local Greek traditions are respectively modally analyzed. Relevant audio material and recordings are utilized.
IV. PSALTIC ART AND MODERN HELLENIC URBAN POPULAR MUSIC
A large part of modern Greek urban folk music shows relationship with the Byzantine music. We detect the individual items and points of contact regarding this relationship in a diachronic examination divided in periods by significant changes (Asia Minor disaster, predominance of bouzouki, appearance of special musical currents, such as “rebetiko, artistic, political” song, etc.). By using the tool of modal analysis, we attempts to localize the more closely related repertoire to the core of the Byzantine Oktaechia’s modal characteristics. Use relevant audio material and recordings are being utilized.
V. THEORY AND PRAXIS OF PSALTIC ART i
The theoretical principals used by the Psaltic are the main subject being taught at this course, with emphasis on basic terms such as modality, intervals, production and discriminations of multi-modal subcategories, theory of the main Echos. As a fundamental enchiridion is suggested the Mega Theoreticon by Chrysanthos, and complementary notes are provided.
VI. THEORY AND PRAXIS OF PSALTIC ART ii
In succession of the course THEORY AND PRACTICE OF THE PSALTIC ART I, this course examines thoroughly the modal analysis of the Echos and their Elements. A wide and rich range of examples and references to parallel modal Easterly Systems are used. Notes by the professor are provided.
Books
• Ο Απόστολος Κώνστας ο Χίος και η συμβολή του στη θεωρία της Μουσικής Τέχνης (Apostolos Konstas of Chios and his contribution to the Theory of music art), Foundation for Byzantine Music, Studies 4, Athens 2002.
• Η Εκκλησιαστική Μουσική στο Εκκλησιαστικό Δίκαιο (The ecclesiastic music in the ecclesiastic law), “En Chordais” Thessaloniki 1999.
• Eλαττόνων τρισσάκις τρις τριών Σύνθεμα (Synthema of 3*3*3 minora), “En Chordais”, Thessaloniki 2016.
Representative Publications
1996 «Το ούτι ως εκπαιδευτικό όργανο ελληνικής μουσικής», "The oud as an educational instrument of Greek music" in Volume Oud Learning method, ed. "En Chordais", Thessaloniki.
2000 «Τραγούδια θρησκευτικού περιεχομένου της Λέσβου και Βυζαντινή Μουσική», " Songs of religious content from Lesvos and Byzantine Music". Study in Volume Musical Crossroads in the Aegean: Lesvos 19th - 20th century, accompanied by a quintet CD, Athens 2000, Aegean University - Exantas.
2001 «Εποπτικά όργανα για τη διδασκαλία ελληνικής παραδοσιακής μουσικής», "Epoptic instruments for Greek traditional music teaching," presentation at the international conference on musical instruments, Kastoria 2001, as appendix in Notes on the Course for “elementary handling of non tempered instrument” uploaded in e class.
2003 «Μορφολογικές παρατηρήσεις στα Δοξαστικά του Πέτρου Πελοποννησίου κατά το Νέο αργό στιχηραρικό είδος», "Morphological observations on Doxastika of Petros Peloponnesios in New argon stichirarchikon style". Announcement in the Second International Conference of Psaltike of IBM, Athens, October 2003, "Proceedings.
2004/2014 «Ο δεύτερος ήχος της ψαλτικής», "The second echos of Psaltike." Study in the honorary first volume of the journal Anatoles to periehema 1, (final version: Athens 2014). 2005 «Έντεκα (11) Άρθρα για την ελληνική μουσική», "Eleven (11) Articles on Greek music" .Trans-Mediterranean program medi muses, En Chordais, Thessaloniki.
2006 «Αναλύσεις στην περί τροπικότητας διδασκαλία του Αποστόλου Κώστα του Χίου», “Analysis on the modality teaching of Apostle Kostas Chios”, Athens. Notice the IBM C Conference Proceedings.
2009 «Παραδοσιακός χορός και νεοελληνική λαϊκή μουσική», "Traditional Dance and Modern popular music". Conference on "Perspectives of traditional dance" Center for the Study of Traditional Dances "Cyclos", 4 and 5 April 2009, Thessaloniki (to be published in the Proceedings).
2009 «Ρυθμός καί Εξήγηση κοσμικών μελών από την Παλαιά Παρασημαντική», "Rhythm and exegesis of secular pieces written in Old Parasemantike (notation)". 4th International Musicological Congress of Psaltike, Institute of Byzantine Musicology (IBM), Athens, 8-11 December 2009 (Conference Proceedings).
2011 «Levels of orality in Byzantine music». 4th International Conference on Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) "Unity and Variety in Orthodox Music: Theory and Practice", Joensuu, Finland / 6-12 June 2011 (Practical English).
2011 «Production fields of theoretical terminology of the psaltiki». International Musicological Conference "Crossroads", Aristotle University of Thessalonica School of Music Studies, IMS, Thessaloniki, 6 - 10 June 2011 (Minutes online in English, http: //crossroads.mus .auth.gr / wpcontent / uploads / 2013/07 / CROSSROADS_PROCEEDINGS.pdf).
2012 «Tόνος και μέλος στους προσωδιακούς Κανόνες του Δαμασκηνού» "Tonos and melos of the prosodic Canons of Damascenus". Conference: Music and Language "Department of Music Studies University of Athens, 23 and 24 November 2012 (Musicologia 22).
2012 «Σύμβολα και συμβολισμοί στη θεωρητική ύλη της Ψαλτικής» "Symbols and symbolisms in the theoretical texts of Psaltike". International Congress of Byzantine Musicology (IBM), Athens, December 14,
2012 (to be published in the Proceedings).
2013 «Diagrams and" Kanonia "as Visual Representations of Musical Instruments in the Theory of Psaltic Art».The Fifth International Conference on Orthodox Church Music, "Church Music and Icons: Windows to Heaven" University of Eastern Finland, in Joensuu, Finland / 3-9 June 2013 (Practical English).
2014 «Παρατηρήσεις περί Διδακτικής της ψαλτικής, οργανολογίας και θεωρίας διαστημάτων στο ‘Παναρμόνιον’ του Κ. Ψάχου», "Notes on Psaltike teaching, organology and interval theory using K. Psahos's "panarmonion" as a basis". 1st International Interdisciplinary Musicological Conference in Volos on "The Chanting Autonomous Art as Science", 30 June - 2 July 2014 (http: //speech.di.uoa. gr / IMC2014 / pdffull / IMC2014% 20Proceedings.pdf, Internet- publication Proceedings).
Artistic Activity
In addition to teaching artistic objects such as Byzantine music, oud, traditional orchestra, elementary handling of non tempered instrument in Musical High Schools, private schools ("En Hordais" etc.), University of Macedonia, Department of Music and University of Athens, the following are noted: He chants and sings in the choir of the artistic group "En Hordais" with many events in Greece and abroad. Among the most important performances of this band the following are mentioned: - April 18, 2000 at the Athens Concert Hall with extensive programme of folk music and learned music of the Constantinople, including a small tribute to Zacharias Chanente - October 2001: the events “Byzantium Memories” () in Venice - May 15, 2003 in Brussels at the Palais des beaux arts - March 28, 2004 at the event «Voix de Byzance», in Thessaloniki Concert Hall with Chronis Aidonidis and "Maistores of Psaltic Art" conducted by Professor Gr. Stathis - April 1, 2006 at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall with a programme for Musical Traditions of the Mediterranean, and invited artists - June 2, 2006 at the Athens Concert Hall at the event "Listening World, Polis and our East" - January 8, 2012 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris - Novmber 27, 2014 at the Athens Concert Hall in tribute to El Greco a - Other events in Marseille, Plovdiv, Venice and various towns in Greece. Not listed here: participations in private events. Occasionally he has participated in events of «The Maistores ...» under the choir master Grigorios Stathis.
