Learn the Tones by Listening
The MP3 files play a Byzantine choir chanting the first part of the Vespers hymn, "Kyrie Ekekraxa," in Greek. Your browser must have an audio player installed to hear audio directly. Open the score in a new window, then open the audio file. You will notice that the music in the score does not follow the audio exactly. Each chanter or chant group adds its own embellishments to the score. The score does depict the overall melodic line and this is easily seen, but unwritten embellishments are common and often depicted in Byzantine notation. Pay attention to the tonal center, key signature, melodic patterns,and cadences. These elements of the music are the key to recognizing the tones. There are many ways to chant the drone (or "ison") so there are discrepancies between how the ison is written in the score and how it is executed in the audio files.

Kyrie ekekraxa - 1st Tone
MP3 Audio           Score
Kyrie ekekraxa - 2nd Tone
MP3 Audio           Score
Kyrie ekekraxa - 3rd Tone
MP3 Audio           Score
Kyrie ekekraxa - 4th Tone
MP3 Audio           Score
Kyrie ekekraxa - Plagal 1st Tone
MP3 Audio           Score
Kyrie ekekraxa - Plagal 2nd Tone
MP3 Audio           Score
Kyrie ekekraxa - Grave Tone
MP3 Audio           Score
Kyrie ekekraxa - Plagal 4th Tone
MP3 Audio           Score