Oxyrhynchus hymn

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The Oxyrhynchus hymn (or P. Oxy. XV 1786) is the earliest known manuscript of a Christian hymn to contain both lyrics and musical notation. The papyrus on which the hymn was written dates from around the end of the 3rd century AD. [1] It is on Papyrus 1786 of the Oxyrhynchus papyri, now kept at the Papyrology Rooms of the Sackler Library, Oxford. The manuscript was discovered in 1918 in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, and later published in 1922. [2]

Contents

Description

The lyrics of the Oxyrhynchus hymn were written in Greek, and poetically invoke silence for the praise of the Holy Trinity (i.e. cosmic stillness, a motif of ancient Greek hymnody). [3] Historically, the hymn demonstrates Greek civilizational continuity where erudite Christian Greeks used and accepted the musical notation of their classical Greek predecessors. [4]

The music is written in Greek vocal notation. [5] It is entirely diatonic, with an ambitus of exactly an octave from F to F an octave above, and a final nominally on G (assuming a key signature without sharps or flats). The notation is Hypolydian, and employs the rhythmic symbols macron (diseme), leimma + macron, stigme, hyphen, and colon. [6] The text is largely set syllabically, with a few short melismas. The hymn's meter is essentially anapaestic, though there are some irregularities. [7]

“It was formerly thought that the Oxyrhynchos fragment proved a definite influence of Greek music in the early Church; but later research has indicated that, in spite of the Greek notation, the melody probably has a more Eastern provenience. “ [8]

Text

The Phos Hilaron and the Oxyrhynchus hymn constitute the earliest extant Christian Greek hymn texts reasonably certain to have been used in Christian worship, but are neither drawn from the Bible nor modeled on Biblical passages. [9]

  1. . . . together all the eminent ones of God. . .
  2. . . . night] nor day (?) Let it/them be silent. Let the luminous stars not [. . .],
  3. . . . [Let the rushings of winds, the sources] of all surging rivers [cease]. While we hymn
  4. Father and Son and Holy Spirit, let all the powers answer, "Amen, amen, Strength, praise,
  5. [and glory forever to God], the sole giver of all good things. Amen, amen." [10]
Fragment of Oxyrhynchus hymn, 29.6 x 4.8-5.0 cm. POxy 1786.jpg
Fragment of Oxyrhynchus hymn, 29.6 x 4.8–5.0 cm.

See also

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Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 22 contains fragments of the Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles, written in Greek. It was discovered by Grenfell and Hunt in 1897 in Oxyrhynchus. The fragment is dated to the fifth century. It is housed in the British Library. The text was published by Grenfell and Hunt in 1898.

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Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 79 is a declaration of a death, written in Greek. The manuscript was written on papyrus in the form of a sheet. It was discovered by Grenfell and Hunt in 1897 in Oxyrhynchus. The document was written between 181-192. Currently it is housed in the British Museum (756) in London. The text was published by Grenfell and Hunt in 1898.

Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 103 is a lease of some land, written in Greek and discovered in Oxyrhynchus. The manuscript was written on a sheet of papyrus. The document was written on 13 October 316. Currently it is housed in the British Museum (767) in London.

Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 121 is a letter, written in Greek and discovered in Oxyrhynchus. The manuscript was written on papyrus in the form of a sheet. The document was written in the 3rd century. Currently it is housed in the Haskell Oriental Institute (2067) at the University of Chicago.

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Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 134 is the second in a series of Oxyrhynchus papyri (133–139) concerning the family affairs of Flavius Apion, his heirs, or his son. This one is a receipt from a stonemason given to Flavius. It is written in Greek and was discovered in Oxyrhynchus. The manuscript was written on papyrus in the form of a sheet. The document was written on 9 June 569. Currently it is housed in the Egyptian Museum (10053) in Cairo.

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References

Citations

  1. ↑ Pöhlmann & West 2001, 192.
  2. ↑ Grenfell and Hunt 1922 , 21–25.
  3. ↑ Cosgrove 2011 , 37–63, Chapter Three: "Interpretation of the Text". According to Cosgrove, the cosmic stillness motif can be found in Homer's Iliad (19.255–19.256), Callimachus's hymn to Apollo, Limenius's hymn to Apollo, in one of Mesomedes's hymns, in two of Synesius's hymns, etc.
  4. ↑ Lang 1941 , 23: "The few words and notes of the Oxyrhynchus fragment furnish an invaluable document with which to demonstrate the uninterrupted continuity that existed between ancient and Christian Greek civilization. It testifies to the fact that the educated Christian Greeks accepted and transplanted the musical system of their ancestors. However, this is our sole document, and taking it for a model, we can only imagine how the hymns sung in the Christian communities of the great Egyptian cities sounded."
  5. ↑ McKinnon 2001.
  6. ↑ Pöhlmann & West 2001 , 190–192.
  7. ↑ Pöhlmann & West 2001 , 192–193.
  8. ↑ Grout, Donald Jay. A history of Western music. LONDON: : J . M, DENT & SONS. LTD.
  9. ↑ Smith 2011 , 211.
  10. ↑ Cosgrove 2011 , 37.
  11. ↑ Cosgrove 2011 , 13.

Sources

Discography

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