• About this site
  • - Sheetmusic archive
  • - FAQ
• Cantor Institute
  • - What is a cantor?
  • - Our cantors
  • - Becoming a cantor
  • - Improving your skills
  • - Online classes
    
  • - Archived classes
    
• Liturgy
  • - Basic elements
  • - Daily cycle
  • - Weekly cycle
  • - Eight tones
  • - Liturgical year
  • - Divine Liturgy
  • - Holy Mysteries
  • - Occasional services
  • - Funeral services
    
  • - Living liturgically
• Menaion
  
• Musicianship
  • - Sound
    - Singing
  • - Intervals
  • - Scales
    - Notation
  • - Vocal course
• Prostopinije
  • - History
  • - Melodies
  • - Harmonies
  • - Rhythm
  • - Performance
• Choral music
  • - Our choirs
  • - Composers
  • - Resources
• Readings
  • - Lectionary
    - Pronunciation guide
• Setting the services
• Singing the services
  • - Preparation
  • - Leadership
  • - Pitch matching
• Spiritual songs
  • - The Hymnal Project
• Tools for learning
  • - Recording your voice
  • - Theta Music Trainer
  • - Using Moodle
  
  

Prostopinije > Melodies > Kontakia >

The Tone 4 Kontakion Melody

This prostopinije melody is one of four special feast-day melodies (in Tones 3, 4, 6, and 8) which are now used for singing all kontakia in these four tones. This page explains how to sing the tone 4 kontakion melody.

The kontakion of Theophany

Each of the four kontakion melodies is derived from the melody of the kontakion for an important feast. In Tone 4, this is the kontakion of the Nativity of Theophany (January 6), the feast of the Baptism of the Lord:

listen

Here is the Sunday kontakion in Tone 4:

listen

Each phrase begins on sol and ends on mi. This gives it a bright, festive feel, matching the Tone 4 troparion melody.

Structure of the Melody

The Tone 4 kontakion melody consists of two phrases (A and B) sung in alternation. An entire troparion always ends with the B phrase.

Here is the first or A phrase. (See the article on the Tone 3 kontakion melody if you are unclear about intonation, reciting tone, preparatory note, and cadence.)

This melody is entirely smooth, with no leaps between pitches, but only motion up and down the scale. It always leads into the second or B phrase:

This pattern of three notes is a notable part of the Tone 4 kontakion melody:

Now go back and sing the Theophany and Sunday kontakia in Tone 4, watching out for the A and B melodies, and the distinctive 3-note pattern in the blue box above.

Like the Tone 3 troparion melody, the Tone 4 kontakion melody has plenty of examples to assist in learning it.

Melodies for Glory / Now and ever

Here is how "Glory... Now and ever...." should be sung before a kontakion in tone 4:

Verify that the two phrases match the A and B melodies above.

Here is how "Glory...." and "Now and ever...." should be sung when one or the other is sung before a kontakion in tone 4:

Each is a complete example of the Tone 4 kontakion melody, with both A and B phrases. When singing the doxology like this before a troparion or kontakion, you can look to the beginning of the following hymn to see how to start singing the doxology.

Learning the melody

Sing through the examples of tone 4 kontakia, all of which use this melody.

Memorize the Glory, Now and ever melodies (above) and practice singing them from memory, immediately followed by kontakia in tone 4.

Then try singing a troparion in each of the eight tones, followed by Glory... or Glory... Now and ever... and a kontakion in tone 4.