Hagia Sophia, this timeless symbol of spirituality and transcendence, stands out for its unparalleled acoustics. Its architecture, with the imposing dome and curved surfaces, creates a sound that is not confined within space; instead, it is liberated. Within this unique acoustic environment, every sound is transformed, gaining depth and duration. The resonance of each chant, lasting eleven seconds, embraces the listener, turning the sound of Byzantine psalms into a mystical experience.
In the present day, the sound of Hagia Sophia is revived in the Church of Dormition of the Mother of God in Balino, a historic 16th-century church that had fallen into ruin and was fully restored two years ago.
Professor Jonathan Abel of Stanford University and the scientific team at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics captured Hagia Sophia’s acoustic fingerprint and, using modern audio tools, transferred it with precision to this new space.
Thus, the psalms are heard once again as they resonated in the temple centuries ago, offering the public an experience that bridges time, faith, and science.
This sound comes to life through the “Hagia Sophia - PeopleCert" Choir, created especially for this project. Thirty distinguished cantors, most with roots in Istanbul, chant psalms in authentic patriarchal style, within a space that faithfully reproduces Hagia Sophia’s resonance.
