Πρώτος Ήχος / First Mode

Παρουσίαση / Reference

Εισαγωγή

Introduction

The most popular mode and one of the richest in variety

in the whole of Ecclesiastical Music.

Most Greek traditional folk songs are in this mode.

Traditionally (but not always) a joyful mode, used to express joy, pride, excitement and more.

Βάση ήΊσον(Παραγωγή ήχου)

Base or Ison (Mode Production)

It is called First mode because it is the first mode we find when
stepping up one (major tone) interval from the mode production basis.

One note (major tone interval) up from Νη (the first mode production basis), we find Πα,which is the most commonbasis note of First mode.
When the basis is Πα, the mode is more accurately called low (έσω/eso) First mode .

In the following example, we hear how the mode is found, bystepping up one note from Νη to find Πα.

listen (Emmanouilidis, Νη (Νε) - Πα (Νε))

One note (major tone interval) up from Δι
(the second mode production basis) we find Κε, the other basis of First mode.
When the basis is Ke, the mode is more accurately called high (έξω/ekso) First mode .

In the following example, we hear how the mode is found, by stepping up one note fromΔι to find Κε.

listen (Stanitsas, Δι (Νε) - Κε (Νε))

In the old days (before 1814) when there was no Πα, Βου, Γα, Δι ... , First mode was called

Ananes and the psaltai would use a relatively high pitch note as its basis. Something like this:

listen (Bilalis, Ananes, Δι (A) - Κε (Na) - Κε (Nες))

The reason why we have high First mode (from Κε) nowadays is because many old pieces

still assume that the chosen basisshould behigh enough for the voice to comfortably reach lower notes
as the melodies descend from the basis of First mode (Κε) to its Plagal (First Plagal from Πα).

But more on that later.

Αρκτική Μαρτυρία
Starting sign/Mode indication

Note: The indication sign q is a calligraphic a meaning "first" in Greek.

Low first mode (from Πα)

S. Karas gives the following martyria for this mode

However in most printed books the oxeia is not there

And even more often the fthora is not there either, it is implied.

Sometimes for brevity, the ypsele is omitted too.

And even simpler
(e.g. in Anastasimatarion Ioannou, publ. by Zoe)

High first mode or First mode Tetraphonos (from Κε)

Again, S. Karas gives the following martyria for this mode

However, in most printed books the oxeia is not there

And even more often the fthora is not there either (as it is implied)

D. Panagiotopoulos gives this sign also for this mode.
It indicates a four note ascend from the basis of its Plagal
(see the definition of Tetraphonos).

Απήχημα
Apechema

Fast Heirmologic

Papadic
score | listen

Papadic (Tetraphonos)

score| listen (Maistores, Ananeanes)

Κλίμακα
Scale

Assuming the basis is Πα. The same intervals apply when the basis is Κε.
Only the names of the notes (and implicitly the pitch) change.

According to the Octachordon system

A diatonic tetrachord (of the type of First mode)

Πα 10 Βου 8 Γα 12 Δι
joined to another diatonic tetrachord (of the type of Fourth mode Agia)
Δι 12 Κε 10 Ζω 8 Νη
plus an additional major tone
Νη 12 Πα

which gives the following succession of intervals
10-8-12 12-10-8 12

view| listen

According to the Pentachordon system

A diatonic tetrachord (of the type of First mode)
Πα 10 Βου 8 Γα 12 Δι 12 Κε

which gives the following succession of intervals
10-8-12-12

view| listen

Σύστημα
System

Octachordon

... 10-8-12 12-10-8 12 10-8-12 12-10-8 12 10-8-12 12-10-8 12 ...

view| listen

Pentachordon

... 10 8 12 12 10 8 12 12 10 8 12 12 10 8 12 12 ...

view| listen

Συγγενείς ήχοι

Related modes

Modes that usually occur in compositions of First mode:

Fourth Plagal from Νη

score | listen

Fourth Agia from Δι

score | listen

First Plagal Pentaphonos (so called Enarmonios) from Πα

score | listen

Second Plagal from Πα

score | listen

Fourth Legetos from Βου

score | listen

Φθορές
Fthorai

The diatonic ones..

Δεσπόζοντες Φθόγγοι
Dominant notes

Heirmologic..

score | listen

Sticheraric..

score | listen

Papadic...

score | listen

Καταλήξεις
Cadences

Heirmologic.

score | listen

Sticheraric..

score | listen

Papadic...

score | listen

Έλξεις
Melodic attractions

Heirmologic..

GA => ΔΙ

score | listen

Sticheraric..

BOU => GA

score | listen

GA=> ΔΙ

score | listen

ΔΙ => GA

score | listen

Νη' => PA'

score | listen

....

Papadic:

as in the sticheraric

Μέσος ήχος
Mesos mode

Protovarys (Varys Pentaphonos) ...

score | listen

Παράμεσος ήχος
Paramesos mode

Plagal First mode from low Ke
(Chrysanthos, $348)

score | listen

Πλάγιος Ήχος
Plagal mode

First Plagal mode...

score | listen

Αντίφωνος ήχος
Antiphonos mode

First mode from low KE..

score | listen

First mode from low PA...

score | listen

Δίφωνος ήχος

Diphonos mode

Naos, Maqam Sabah

score | listen

Τετράφωνος ήχος

Tetraphonos mode

High First Mode (from Ke)

score | listen

Πεντάφωνος ήχος

Pentaphonos mode

With permanent Ζω flat.

score | listen

Επτάφωνος ήχος

Heptaphonos mode

Leitourgika...

score | listen

Ιδιώματα
Idioms

Behaves as both Plagal and Authentic mode...

score | listen

Επείσακτα μέλη
Hepeisakta mele

"Ton Tafon sou Swtir"... (chanted in Second mode)

score | listen

Some people say this melody was originally in First Mode Diphonos

score | listen

Ίσον
Ison

PA when in First mode from PA

score | listen

ΔΙ, when in Agia

score | listen

KE when in First mode from KE

score | listen

Νη when in Fourth Plagal

score | listen

Στίχος
Verses

Heirmologic:

Fast

score | listen

Slow

score | listen

Sticheraric:

Fast

score | listen

Είδη μελοποιείας
Composition styles

Heirmologic:

Fast

score | listen

Slow

score | listen

Sticheraric:

Fast

score | listen

Slow

score | listen

Papadic:

score | listen

Mathemata..

score | listen

Kalophonic..

score | listen

Προσόμοια

Prosomoia

"Ton Ouranion Tagmaton.."

score (fast) | listen (Tsolakidis)
score (slow) | listen

"O tou paradoksou Thavmatos.."

score (fast) | listen
score (slow) | listen

"Vavai.."

score (slow) | listen

"Panefemoi Martyres.."

score (fast) | listen
score (slow) | listen

"Tou Lithou Sfragisthentos..."

("Tis Eremou Politis..")

score | listen

...

Σχετικός Αρχαίος Ελληνικός Ήχος

Related Ancient Greek Mode

Dorian...

Σχετικός Ανατολικός Δρόμος (Μακάμ)
Related Eastern maqam

Dugah, Ussak, Muhayer, Beyati, Sabah ...

score | listen

Παρατηρήσεις
Notes

The melodic attraction GA => ΔΙ has beenoverdone...

score | listen

Isonchanges have been overdone..

score | listen

First Mode from PA,can getconfused with First Plagal

(e.g. Osoi eis Xriston, Douloi Kyrion..)

score | listen

....

Ερωταπαντήσεις
Questions and Answers

Q) I noticed that the slow communion hymn by St. John Koukouzelis "Aineite" is in plagal first tone according to Angelopoulos, but in Hieromonk Ierotheos' book it is in first tone. Who is right? And more importantly, how can you distinguish between the papadic versions of the two tones?

A) See the Idioms section of this mode.

Βιβλιογραφία
Bibliography

Chrysanthos..

Epitropi...

Boudouris...

Panagiotopoulos..

Karas..

Konstantinou...

...