Father Leonce Tayan published the multivolume collection of canonical songs of the Armenian church in 1954-1969, in European notation for the first time. Texts of the songs in this collection – «Ձայնագրեալ Շարական Հայաս­տա­­նեայց եկեղեցւոյ» (Բ.– Ը.), are in Armenian, plus the Latin transliteration. Thanks to these volumes we can make an impression of the Venetian school of Armenian medieval spiritual songs. This collection contains 7 volumes – from 2nd to 8th, but the 1st volume of collection is not published yet. Meanwhile, it in­cludes author’s innermost thoughts about the history and theory of Armenian mu­sic, as well as it presents the system of additional alteration signs for quarter-tone notes, created by the author himself and internationally recognized as “Sys­tem Tayan”. 

The manuscript of the 1st volume of above mentioned collection is kept in the archives of the Venetian Mekhitarists. Few years ago they sent us a copy, and we prepared the scientific text for publication with introduction and an­no­ta­tions. 

This monumental collection of Armenian spiritual hymns looks like a mag­ni­ficent temple without the dome, consequently it is necessary to publish it as soon as possible for the completeness of this significant collection.