Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Question 1

Why is Dr. De Savage including this plainchant?

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Answer 1

As a point of reference for the Leoninus and Perotinus organum examples.

Question 2

Genre:

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Answer 2

plainchant,

Question 3

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes is part of the ______

Answer 3

Mass Proper; text determined by occasion. Christmas.

Question 4

Liturgical function:

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Answer 4

sung before the Alleluia; performed while standing in one place (e.g., on steps) rather than while processing.

Question 5

Texture:

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Answer 5

Monophonic

Question 6

Text setting:

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Answer 6

melismatic; highly ornate

Question 7

Mode:

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Answer 7

Lydian (mode 5)

Question 8

Listening clue(s):

Mass for Christmas Day: Gradual: Viderunt omnes

Answer 8

The intonation (beginning part sung by soloist) is very “major”-sounding, in part because of the rising “arpeggio” (in modern terms). The raised scale-degree 4 of the Lydian mode gives the overall piece a very distinct quality. There is a lot of activity around the reciting pitch (C) throughout the piece.