Vivat Chant

(Latin vivat, “long live”), a special form of ceremonial chanting that originated in Russian music during the Petrine period. The vivat chant is characterized by a fanfare melody and roulades on the word vivat. It was per-formed by a chorus or a group of singers, sometimes accompanied by wind instruments, during ceremonial receptions and on holidays. The vivat chant was also sung as a greeting in everyday situations. The chants were used until the end of the 18th century.