geʿez

The term "ge'fez" in the context of Ethiopian music refers to a specific style of vocal liturgical music used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. This style is one of three distinct manners of chanting, alongside "araray" and "ezel".1

The ge'fez style is associated with the Father in the Trinity and is the primary way most melodies are performed in services. The music is based on a notation system called melekket, codified in the 16th century using characters from the ancient Ge'fez language. Each character represents a syllable, but its musical meaning is conveyed through oral tradition and guides a specific melodic formula, or serayu, which is then embellished with improvised ornaments. The debtara, or singer, is trained in church rituals and scriptures to perform these chants.1