Църковна музнка и оплаквания
Sacred Music and Laments

Summary/Abstract: The laments over deceased persons are often performed close to the rituals of the church, i.e. those of the priest. This connection does sometimes give ground for seeking similarity between laments and sacred chants. These latter, however, differ completely in terms of their origin and their essential character. The laments have no common grounds with the religious chants, or, if there are any, they are often casual. There is a greater similarity between the lament’s recitative and the readings from the Gospel. The laments over the deceased are forms of improvisation. The religious chants are strictly fixed in terms of text, as well as in terms of music. Sacred chants are studied at the theological colleges, while women learn the laments by the means of traditional folklore. Cursory comparisons are made in the article between laments and old religious chants, the work of Joan Koukouzel „Polyaeley to the Bulgarian Woman” in particular. Interesting similarities are observed, which give ground to assume a certain influence of the laments upon the authors of sacred music.

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