Strictly
speaking, Byzantine music is the medieval sacred
chant of Christian Churches following the
Orthodox rite. This tradition, encompassing the
Greek-speaking world, developed in Byzantium
from the establishment of its capital,
Constantinople, in 330 until its fall in 1453.
It is undeniably of composite origin, drawing on
the artistic and technical productions of the
classical age and inspired by the monophonic
vocal music that evolved in the early Christian
cities of Alexandria, Antioch and Epheus.