Kievan chant, or chant inKyivan style (Russian:Киевский распев,romanized: Kievskiy raspev;Ukrainian:Київський розспів,romanized: Kyïvs'kyy rozspiv), is one of theliturgical chants common to theRussian Orthodox Church, theUkrainian Orthodox Church and those churches that have their roots in the Moscow Patriarchate, such as theOrthodox Church in America.[1]
During the course of the 17th century, three new types of Orthodox liturgical chant appeared in theRus' region. The first of them was the Kievan chant, followed by the so-called "Bulgarian" or Bulgarski chant, and finally the "Greek" or Grecheski chant. They were collectively known by the termObikhod.[1]
The Kievan chant first developed in the southwestern region ofRus' (currently EasternUkraine) and then spread toMuscovite Russia.[2] It was, in essence, a drastically simplified form ofznamenny chant.[3]
Kievan chant melodies tend to be shorter and simpler rhythmically than znamenny melodies; there are more pronounced distinctions betweenrecitative-like andmelismatic passages; and certain phrases of text are repeated, something that generally does not occur in theznamenny chant.[2]
The melodies of Kievan chant, for the most part, served as the basis for the so-called "Common" chant.[2]