Haec dies (Chant)

Question 1

Haec dies (Chant) background information

Answer 1

• Gregorian chant
• anonymous
• composition date: Early Middle Ages
• mass component: Gradual, from the Mass for Easter Day
• source of text: Psalms 118:1/1:24, Old Testament
• Latin
• soloist and chorus
• monophonic

Question 2

Haec dies (Chant) essay sections

Answer 2

(none)

Question 3

Haec dies (Chant) (??)

Answer 3

• monophonic texture
• melody based on the Dorian mode
• responsorial performance
• unmeasured rhythm
• melismatic text setting on key words - “Haec,” “Dominus,” “exsultemus,” “quoniam”
• melodic range extends to a ninth; wider than many chants
• melody moves by step and narrow leap; many melodic thirds several fourths and a fifth on the final word eius”

Question 4

How was the Haec dies (Chant) organized as a responsorial performance?

Answer 4

1. solo voice (“Haec dies”)
2. chorus (“quam fecit . . .”)
3. solo voice (“Confitemini . . .”)
4. chorus (“eius”)

Question 5

What made the Haec dies (Chant) an unmeasured rhythm piece?

Answer 5

• no bar lines or note values indicated;

- follows the natural flow of the text; referred to as prose rhythm

Question 6

What does the melismatic text setting on the key words -“Haec,” “Dominus,” “exsultemus,” “quoniam” - in Haec dies (Chant) convey?

Answer 6

conveys the joyful message of the feast of Easter

Question 7

What does the fact that the Haec dies (Chant) has a wider melodic range than many changes reflect?

Answer 7

reflects the meaning of the txt and the importance of the feast day

Question 8

What does the fifth on the final word “eius” in the Haec dies (Chant) convey?

Answer 8

further convey the joy of the Easter celebration