Notated sources from the South-Western Bulgarian lands up to the fifteenth century

The article discusses the notated manuscripts from the South-Western Bulgarian lands up to the fifteenth century. The sources attest to the adoption of the musical systems that were in use at that time in the Balkan Orthodox countries – ekphonetic, palaeo-, middle- and late Byzantine.

 The systems were adopted on a high professional level. Numerous Triodia manuscripts testify to the work started in the Ohrid school at the time of St. Clement of Ohrid on the preparation of the repertory in Old Bulgarian language that was necessary for the worship in the newly founded Bulgarian Church: for Great Lent, Easter and post-Easter time, as it is pointed out in the Vita of St. Clement.

 The adoption of the musical systems on a high professional level suggests the maintenance of the church music by a strong liturgical and educational center, such as the Bulgarian Archbishopric in Ohrid.