ROMEIKO Ensemble

      The birth of Romeiko Ensemble was inspired by the increasing need to raise awareness, respect and appreciation in the Western world concerning the Masters and Composers of the Empire of the Romans (Byzantium) as well as the Chant tradition in the Christian and Ottoman Constantinople (Istanbul). The Romeiko Ensemble, founded in 1992 in Philadelphia, USA, performs the classical music of Byzantium and Ottoman Empire.
      In Byzantine times (330-1453), the Byzantine Emperor’s Court as well as the Great Church of Hagia Sophia sponsored master composers, the most prominent been Ioannes Glykys, Ioannes Koukouzelis, Ioannes Kladas, Xenos Koronis, Manuel Chrysafis along with 80 others, who set to music verses from the Septuagint Psalter, Byzantine liturgical lyrics (hymns) or texts of syllables which have no meaning (kratema). Chant was performed in the Emperor’s Church (Hagia Irene) a capella by male choirs under the direction of the Domestikos. At the Palace Court secular music was accompanied by instruments during the royal ceremonies. Byzantine music was transmitted orally via a master/apprentice relationship as well as through a neumatic notational system, parasemantiki. The cantors (psaltes) in late Byzantine times wore wide-brimmed hats (skiadion) or tall “bullet” hats (skaranikon) and dressed in special cloaks (kamision and phelonion) girded with a belt (sfiktourion). This cantors’ costume tradition was lost after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 leaving the cantor dressed only with a black robe (rason). However, for the first time since the Fall, Yorgos Bilalis has joined forces with US opera costume designers in 2004 to recreate these Byzantine cantors’ vestments as they are described in several treatises or depicted on Byzantine frescoes and manuscript miniatures. In 2018, Bilalis created a second version with Greek milliner and costume designers for the presentation the Acathist Hymn.
      Romeiko has undertaken the task of presenting authentic interpretations of medieval Chant transcribed by the acclaimed musicologist Ioannis Arvanitis as well as the post-Byzantine (16th-19th c.) and Neobyzantine chant tradition (1814-) after thorough research in the manuscripts and comparative analysis of the oral expression of Istanbul master cantors of the last century. Yorgos Bilalis, artistic director and domestikos, has selected for Romeiko excellence the best vocal soloists (psaltes) of Athens, Greece for their ability to sight read, assimilate new material quickly, outstanding expression and trained them vocally with special vocal techniques to carry out the extrinsic demands of music and lyrics. Romeiko accompanied by Istanbuliotes virtuoso instrumentalists also performs the Ottoman Sufi classical music as it was developed and nurtured in the Ottoman court and the Mevlevi lodges (tekkes) in Constantinople. In 2000, Romeiko broke new ground in Orthodox psalmody by wedding the rich and varied styles of medieval and neoByzantine musical settings into English and other Orthodox languages text.
      Romeiko began its public performance career in 1994 and has travelled extensively throughout the US and Europe, concertizing at festivals, gala concerts, church ceremonies and services, and other cultural events. Romeiko was catapulted to fame at the 13th International Festival of Orthodox Music in Hajnowka, Poland (1994). The Ensemble was also selected as the most authentic choral group from the US to perform at the Millennium Visit to Detroit of the Patriarch of Constantinople (2000). In 2006, Romeiko was appointed by the National Library of Greece to perform Christmas hymns from the selection of the Library’s rich manuscript collection. Romeiko was the only chorus selected among many greek choirs applicants to perform for the European Cultural Capital: Istanbul 2010 a unique program presenting Byzantine and Ottoman secular music. In 2014, Romeiko performed in Parnassos Cultural Centre, Athens Greece for the 200 years anniversary of the New Method established by the Three Teachers in Constantinople. In 2018, Romeiko performed in Athens Cathedral celebrating the 160 years of its inauguration in a world-premiere the medieval sound of Acathist Hymn (12th century manuscript) as transcribed by Io. Arvanitis. In 2019-22, Romeiko recorded the Complete Works (ΑΠΑΝΤΑ) of 18th c. composer Parthenios of Meteora, in 8 hours recording interpreting the monumental transcriptions of Io. Arvanitis.

Romeiko’s vibrant vocals are soothing its listeners through 30 sound recordings:
“Sounds of the Parthenon”, a live recording at Princeton University with excerpts of Ancient Greek music, post-Byzantine chant, Sufi hymns, Athenian folk songs and Mikis Theodorakis songs (1996)
“Thy Cross we adore”, Exaltation of the Cross Matins performed in English (2000),
“He Cometh at Midnight”, Great and Holy Monday Matins performed antiphonally in Greek and English (2001); lyrics and music in English adapted by Dr. Bilalis.
“From Adam unto Joseph”, selection of Advent hymns, medieval and post Byzantine settings (2002),
“The LITURGY, Mode I”, the whole service of the Liturgy of St. John the Chrysostom performed live in Greek with a deacon and priest in Mode I. Byzantine master Ioannes Kladas’ compositions for the Liturgy are recorded in 2 CDs as transcribed by Chourmouzios Chartophylax (2005).
“From Akathist to Nymphios”, a liturgical chant voyage of the medieval christian poetry that is serviced during Lent (2007).
“Byzantine Christmas”, the Nativity Matins performed in English, a Prokypsis song from the Royal ceremony as well as Christmas carols in Greek (2007).
“Christ on earth”, Nativity Matins performed in Greek, 19th century chant tradition as well as Christmas carols in Greek (2007).
“Today upon the Cross”, The Nine Royal Hour and the Apokathelosis service of Great Saturday performed in Hagia Irene Istanbul (DVD) as transcribed by scholar Io. Arvanitis, as well as modern Greek Laments of Good Friday performed by the youth chorus Cherubic (2010).
“EUCHARIST: St. Basil Liturgy, Mode plagal II”, Byzantine master Ioannes Kladas’ compositions for the Liturgy in mode plagal II (transcriptions by Chourmouzios Chartophylax) as well as the ancient Liturgy of St. Basil with the Creed by Man. Gazis (world premiere) in the original medieval sound as transcribed by Ioannis Arvanitis (2010).
“TYPIKA” the Septuagint Psalms 102 and 145. A book with nine printed versions in the New Method notation (metered and isokratema) since the beginning of Greek typography in 1824. Romeiko recorded all nine versions in 2 CDs included (2014).
ACATHIST HYMN and ANNUNCIATION. Annunciation Vespers and Matins as performed in medieval times (3 CDs) as well as three books: Vol.1, the Chant score in New Method notation, Vol. 2, theological patristic texts on both feasts and Vol 3, with unpublished rare byzantine frescoes and mosaics on Acathist hymn and Annunciation paintings.
PARTHENIOS’ COMPLETE WORKS. Meteorite composer Parthenios’ 64 melodies resuscitated by Romeiko in 8 hours of uplifting experience as authentically transcribed by Io. Arvanitis from the manuscript Old Script into the New Method.