Theophanes Karykes

KARYKES, Theophanes. ca. second half 16th century. Karykes is said to be one of the most important Byzantine composers of the late 16th century, whose work already shows the stylistic influence of the new florid style. Theophanes Karykes is mentioned in the diary of the German pastor Stephan Gerlach: on a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in October 1577, he made the acquaintance of a ‘protopsaltes […] called Kariteus of Athens’. Karykes was a protopsaltes until 1578 and became ecumenical patriarch in 1597. He composed many hymns including Cherubika, Echemata-Kratemata and kalophonic heirmoi, although none survives in the modern repertoire. Nina-Maria Wanek Further Reading M. K...