Beth Gazo


Beth Gazo is a Syriac liturgical book that contains a collection of Syriac chants and melodies. The book is considered a reference of Syriac Hymnody and without it clerics belonging to the West Syriac Tradition cannot perform their liturgical duty. There exist modern varieties of this book with different names such as: beṯ gázo dqinóṯo, beṯ gázo dzimróṯo and beṯ gázo dneʻmóṯo.

History

The origin of Beth Gazo can be traced back to the early centuries of Christianity going as far as Bardaisan. However, the bulk of the hymns is attributed to Ephrem the Syrian.
There are two main traditions in chanting: western based on the School of Mardin and eastern in Tikrit formerly.

Contents

The abridged version of Beth Gazo contain the following hymns:
  1. Qole shahroye "vigils". These were sung by those belonging to the order of shahroye "vigilants". they are dedicated to the Virgin, the saints, to penitence and the departed.
  2. Gushmo "body". Each of which consists of eight modes. These are recited during the daily offices known as šḥimo.
  3. Semeltho d'madroshe "ladder of hymns". It is this category that seems to have mostly inherited Ephrem's.
  4. Fardo "single". These are short hymns divided into eight collections corresponding to the eight Syriac maqams.
  5. Qonuno yawnoyo "Greek canon". Divided into eight collections.
  6. Mawrbo "magnificat". Dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
  7. Qole ghnize "mystic hymns". Those were lost.
  8. Takheshphotho rabuloyotho "litanies of Rabula". Attributed to Rabbula bishop of Edessa.
  9. Tborto "broken". They fall into three categories: those attributed to St. Jacob of Serug, St. Ephrem and of St. Balai of Qenneshrin.
  10. Quqlion "cycles". These are cycles from the Psalms.