From comments on the chants to comments on the script

Abstract

The paper discusses the reform of Alexander Mezenez (second half of the 17th century) and focuses especially on the interrelation between pitch denomination and accentuation. The discovered possibilities of the two-dimensional representation of the scale increase the number of possible transcriptional variants vastly, and give several cues as for the stenographical principles. The paleographic signs are endowed with necessary polyvalence to suit changing demands of prosodic context and preserve orthoepy and semantic integrity of the intonated words. The conviction that there is only one possible scale has deprived chant of the flexibility and, in deciphering melodies, remains a serious hindrance.