About Chourmouzios the Archivist
Lived 1770 – 1840 (aged 69–70). Chourmouzios the Archivist was a Turkish musician, music teacher and secretary.
Chourmouzios the Archivist or Chourmouzios Chartophylax (, "Chourmoúzios the Chartophýlax"), also known with the nickname "the Chalkenteros" (, "he with a copper intestine"), born Chourmouzios Georgiou (; Halki, c. 1770 – Halki, 1840) was an Ottoman Greek composer, musician, music teacher and secretary of the Ottoman Empire.
Early life Chourmouzios was the son of Georgios and was born in Halki, an island in Propontis, and due to a meaty protuberance on the head, they called him "Yamalis" (Turkish: yamali, "patched"). He was a student of the Byzantine music famous cantors and music teachers Iakovos Protopsaltes and Georgios of Crete. He was one of the creators of musical notation of the New Method, along with Gregorios Protopsaltes and Chrysanthos of Madytos; he also transcribed most of the Ecclesiastical Music to the New Method and was awarded for his work with 10,000 grosi and the title of Chartophylax (Archivist) of the Great Church.
Works With 18 years of hard labour, Chourmouzios explained all the melodies of the ancient composers, from Saint John of Damascus until Manuel Protopsaltes. These consisted of 70 volumes, which were bought in 1838 by Patriarch Athanasius of Jerusalem, and were looked after by Cyril II, archpriest of the Sion Church. He reduced them into fewer volumes and ordered that they be bound and kept in the library of the Holy Sepulchre in Phanar, where they are currently present.
In the National Library of Greece there are 34 of his manuscripts (codexs and volumes).
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Chourmouzios the Archivist's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Chourmouzios the Archivist?
music teacher
When was Chourmouzios the Archivist born?
Chourmouzios the Archivist was born in 1770 in Heybeliada.
When did Chourmouzios the Archivist die?
Chourmouzios the Archivist died in 1840 in Heybeliada, Ottoman Empire, Propontis.
What was Chourmouzios the Archivist's occupation?
Chourmouzios the Archivist was a musician, music teacher and secretary.
What nationality was Chourmouzios the Archivist?
Chourmouzios the Archivist was Turkish.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Chourmouzios the Archivist
· DBpedia: Chourmouzios the Archivist
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Chourmouzios the Archivist. https://biography.guide/chourmouzios-the-archivist/
MLA: "Chourmouzios the Archivist." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/chourmouzios-the-archivist/.
Chicago: "Chourmouzios the Archivist." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/chourmouzios-the-archivist/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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