SYRIAN CHANT

   Chant of the Christian traditions historically descendant of the Patriarchate of Antioch, including Syrian Orthodox, Assyrian (Nestorian), Chaldean, and Maronite Churches, among others. These traditions celebrate a Eucharist or divine liturgy analogous to the Latin mass and also a cycle of up to eight daily divine offices focused on the psalms, which are spoken but framed or interpolated with qale (hymns) and other music. The liturgical chant is like an improvised recitative, often on a recitation tone with cadences a tone or semi-tone lower. Hymn forms—qale, madrasha, {}sughiatha, ba’utha—are melodically more elaborate. The offices follow an eight-week modal cycle, whereby all the music is sung in Mode 1 for the first week, Mode 2 for the second, etc.

   See also Byzantine Chant; Oktoēchos.