Chapter 3 - Roman Liturgy and Chant Flashcards
What is a church calendar?
This is a cycle of feast days that commemorate events and saints, one for each day of the year
What is the most important service in the Catholic church?
The mass, which is held on Sunday, daily in larger churches, and several times a day on important feast days.
What is the most important aspect of the mass?
The ritual of communion is the most important aspect of the mass
What are the parts of the mass liturgy that change from day to day?
The Proper changes from day to day
What parts of the mass are the same with each service?
The Ordinary is unchanged from service to service
What are catechumens?
These are those receiving instruction in the church’s teachings but are not yet confirmed and cannot receive communion
What are the main musical elements of the mass?
The Kyrie, Gloria, Santus, and Agnus Dei
Describe the Office
This is a set of eight services observed daily that consisted of prayer and psalm singing. All the psalms are sung over the course of a single week.
What is the antiphon?
This is the chant that is sung before and after the psalm during the Office
Texts of the Office are compiled into a book called the _________, and the music in the ___________.
Breviary; Antiphoner
Texts of the Mass are compiled into a book called the _________ and the chants into the ___________.
Missel; Gradual
What are three performance practices for chant?
Responsorial, Antiphonal, and Direct
Describe direct chant
This is where the choir sings as one unit
Describe antiphonal chant
This is where the choir is split into two groups that alternate parts when singing chant
Describe Responsorial chant
This is where a soloist alternates with the choir or congregation
What are three styles of setting chant texts?
Syllabic, Nuematic, and Melismatic
Describe a syllabic setting of text
This is where each syllable is given a single note
Describe a nuematic setting of text
This is where each syllable can have one to six or so notes - usually one neume per syallable
Describe a melismatic setting of text
This is a setting that makes frequent use of melismas by drawing out syllables with long melodic passages
What are psalm tones?
These are recitation formulas that are specifically for psalms
What is a Trope?
A trope is a type of addition to a chant, be it through adding new words and music, melismas, or text
The oldest surviving copies of written music date to when?
Fragments of manuscripts from the 850’s
What are sequences?
These are chants that are added to the end of the Alleluia during the mass
Describe a liturgical drama
These were dialogues added to a chant or part of the service to help give context to the service. They were usually performed responsively.
