Monk Dositheos and braille Byzantine notation

[Sydney (Nicoletta) F.]

Greetings in Christ!

This may be a long shot, but I thought I'd post to this forum anyhow. I am a blind chanter and am currently doing postgraduate study in various chant traditions. I recently read somewhere on analogion.com about a certain Fr. Dositheos, who developed a braille system for Byzantine notation. I have not been able to find any information beyond this, however, and have therefore contemplated developing a system as well. Does anyone have any more information on this braille system or know if such is available? It would be wonderful if I didn't have to start from scratch and reinvent the wheel, so to speak. :-) Thank you for your help!

Glory to God!

Nicoletta

[Niko T.]

I don't know if you've seen this site yet, but it's a start:
http://analogion.com/Dositheos.html

[Sydney (Nicoletta) F.]

Yes, I have seen that site. It's all the information I've been able to find thus far. Do you think I should try to contact the monastery mentioned on the site?

Many thanks!

Nicoletta

[Niko T.]

You could try asking for more info on the analogion forum: http://analogion.com/forum/, either in Greek or English.
Do you or anyone you know know Greek? I think it would be a great idea to write or call someone at the monastery; they might be able to send you some of his transcriptions or tell you more about his methods. Here is the contact info from the previous site:

Monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justina
Postal Box 46 006, Postal code 133 10
Ano Liosia, Fili, Attica, Greece,
Tel: (+1 210) and then 24 11 380, Fax: 24 11 080.

Take care, and may your efforts be blessed.

[Father Ephraim]

I have put together in English an introduction to Braille Byzantine Music notation (http://www.stanthonysmonastery.org/music/BrailleByzantineMusic.html) and an online tutorial (http://www.stanthonysmonastery.org/music/BrailleByzExercises.html) for learning it.