acclamation

An elaborate musical salutation addressed to the Byzantine emperor, his family, the Patriarch, and other dignitaries of church or state. Known also as Euphymia (“song of praise”) and Polychronion, it wished the personage “many years.” Musical documents preserving acclamations date only from the 14th century, but according to written tradition (De ceremoniis, ii, 19) the practice is much older. Acclamations may have been used as models for the Carolingian Laudes regiae of the late 8th century. Apparently the performance was antiphonal, with two groups of singers: kraktai at secular ceremonies (sometimes accompanied by instruments) and psaltai on religious occasions. Each group was led by a praipositos or precentor, respectively.