Melodies of St. Ephrem's hymns?
  • Geremia
    Posts: 279
    St. Ephrem composed many hymns, but have their melodies been discovered yet?

    McVey & Meyendorff, Hymns p. 1:
    One can only regret that there seems to be no way of restoring the musical melodies, which he doubtlessly composed also, and which were an integral part of his meditation on the mysteries of the faith.
    ibid. p. 63:
    Although the melodies to which these hymns were sung are no longer known, the manuscript tradition identified each tune by the first few words of what was evidently a well-known hymn.
    (like how the kyriales get their names)
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,916
    I presume they are not metrical...
  • RoborgelmeisterRoborgelmeister
    Posts: 325
    Some of St. Ephraem, Syrus' hymns have been transalted to fit the styke of modern hymnody. Others have been translated, but are non - metrical.
    See
    https://hymnary.org/person/Ephraem_Saint
    Thanked by 2tomjaw Geremia
  • Geremia
    Posts: 279
    @Roborgelmeister, what's the
    the styke of modern hymnody
    ?
  • WGS
    Posts: 306
    I think it's a blend of "style" and "sake".
  • RoborgelmeisterRoborgelmeister
    Posts: 325
    The style (sorry for typo) is metrical.
    Like the L.M. used for many office hymns (which in fact are not so modern; but modern is used for shorthand).
    Or, C.M., as in O God Our Help in Ages Past.
    More on this topic here
    https://hymncharts.com/2023/06/15/how-to-use-a-hymnals-metrical-index/
    I think it's a blend of "style" and "sake".

    Ha ha.
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