ASMATIKON

Liturgical book ofByzantine chantcompiled for the trained choir (psaltai) as contrasted with the soloist’spsaltikon. Responsorialchants divided between soloist and choir will likewise be divided between the books; both are required for a complete performance. The surviving copies date from the 13th and early 14th century, mostly from south Italy. They contain chants forkoinōnika(communion) in thedivine liturgy, refrains forprokeimenaandtroparia,hypakoai,kontakia, andordinarychants for thedivine officeincluding theeisdikon,trisagion, andcheroubikon.