THE ACOUSTICS OF ORTHODOX CHURCHES BETWEEN BYZANTINE TRADITION, LITURGICAL EXPERIENCE AND MUSICAL CHALLENGE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbmusica.2025.2.16Keywords:
Orthodox church acoustics, byzantine chant, liturgical space, speech intelligibility, sacred architectureAbstract
The study examines the acoustics of Orthodox churches as a constitutive dimension of the liturgical experience, at the intersection between Byzantine tradition, musical practice and contemporary architectural choices in Romania. Starting from the coexistence of two sonic traditions – psaltic (monodic) and choral (polyphonic) – the research shows how the parameters of space (dome, vaults, iconostasis, materials) shape the intelligibility of the text and the ethos of chant. The results suggest that psaltic chant ‘flourishes’ in ample reverberations with slow tempi and sustained ison, while choral chant requires a balance between resonance and clarity for the text and the verticality of harmony. It is proposed that acoustics be integrated from the earliest stages of design and restoration in order to optimize the relationship between timbral beauty and the intelligibility of the word. Conclusion: sacred space must also be thought of as sound space; acoustics, treated as a “sonic icon”, enhances the catechetical, mystagogical, and communal function of liturgical chant.
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