Institute of Byzantine Musicology
collaborates with Thrasyvosoulos Stanitsas (1973-1979)

In 1974 the Institute of Byzantine Musicology (IBM) started a cycle of musicological studies aim of presenting and chorus chanting choral works of Byzantine and Meta-Byzantine Composers.

For the implementation of this project, Mr. Gregorios Stathis (member of the Institute of Byzantine Musicology) addressed to approached Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas and asked to form a choir to perform as a series of works for each of the composers at corresponding events.

Thus began the round of Musicology Studies. In these, Mr. Stathis spoke presented about the life and work of the composer whom study was dedicated to explore, and the choir directed by Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas performed a series of hymns.

– Petros Bereketes (Parnassus Hall 1973)

– Gregorios Protopsaltes (Parnassus Hall 1976)

– Petros Peloponnessios (Athens Opera Hall 1979)

For all three Musicological Studies, Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas directed his choir performing a selection of musical compositions by the above composers.
For each concert there was a release of one or more vinyl recordings.

“He was a great and unparalleled Protopsaltes, an outstanding musical genius, a leader in his chanting, in his elegance, in his manners, in his life. His coming to Greece was a special blessing because, with his unparalleled sweetness of voice, technical skill, amazing precision, and rendition of intervals and subtle tonalities, with his respect for the Patriarchal Tradition concerning the Typikon and the established liturgical chants of the worship of the ancient great Teachers, he brought a different air that breathed new life into the polymorphic psaltic practice of Ecclesiastical Music in Attica”

From the eulogy of University Professor Gregory Stathis at the funeral of Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas (August 1987).

At the end of 1979 Stanitsas stopped his collaboration with the Institute of Byzantine Musicology.

Subsequently, the IBM collaborated with the choir of Mr. Theodoros Vasilikos for the 5th Musicological Study which was dedicated to Theodoros Focaeus, with a corresponding vinyl album (see photo of the album). IBM also collaborated with the choir of Chrysanthos Theodosopoulos. A musicological study was held in Thessaloniki for Valasios Hiereus. This work was not recorded on vinyl by the choir of Chrysanthos Theodosopoulos.