Idiomelon

DIMITRI CONOMOS

The monostrophic stanzas (troparia) of the Byzantine rite (apolytikia, stichera, kathismata, etc.) may be set to music by the poet-composers in two different ways. A troparion that is endowed with a metrical pattern and a melody that are unique and original to itself is known as an idiomelon. However, if a liturgical poet fashions a new sacred verse which possesses the same meter and music as those of a preexisting hymn (that is, if it is a contrafactum), then the ensuing troparion is called a prosomion. An idiomelon that serves as a model for such prosomoia receives the special name, automelon.

SEE ALSO: Apolytikion; Hymnography; Music (Sacred); Sticheron; Troparion