Unit 1: Gregorian Chant Flashcards
1
Q
Gregorian Chant background and origins
A
- evolved from Hebrew chant tradition
- served as functional music in the worship services of the Roman Catholic Church
- originally passed down orally; among earliest forms of notated music in Western tradition
- organized and codified during the papal reign of Pope Gregory the Great
- used as basis for many new compositions during Middle Ages and Renaissance
2
Q
Gregorian Chant characteristic features
A
- monophonic texture
- modal
- moves by step or narrow leap, within relatively narrow range
- unmeasured rhythm, sung w/o any fixed metrical pattern- melody is sung freely following natural inflections of the text
- based on sacred Latin texts
3
Q
Pope Gregory I
A
- leader of Roman Catholic Church from 590 - 604
- organized and codified the chants that had accumulated, leading to establishment of a uniform liturgical service
- oversaw expansion of schools to train singers in performance of sacred repertoire (schola cantorum)
4
Q
plainchan
A
- sometimes called “plainsong”
- monophonic texture
- modal melodies
- relatively narrow melodic range
- unmeasured prose rhythm
5
Q
Gregorian chant
A
- form of plainchant
- sacred, liturgical music of the Roman Catholic Church
- generally with Latin texts
- modal, monophonic melodies w/ unmeasured rhythm
- named after Pope Gregory the Great
6
Q
syllabic text setting
A
- one note for a single syllable of text
- text can be clearly understood
7
Q
neumatic text setting
A
-several notes (2 to 4) for a single syllable of text
8
Q
responsorial singing
A
- a method of performance
- solo voice alternates with chorus
- solo passages referred to as “verse”
- choral passages referred to as “respond”
9
Q
melismatic text setting
A
- many notes for a single syllable of text
- the most elaborate and florid form of text setting
10
Q
Mass
A
- the most important service in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church
- includes prayers, readings from the Bible, and a reenactment of the Last Supper
- consists of texts that are variable according to the church calendar (Proper) and texts that remain the same (Ordinary)
- became an important genre, particularly during the Renaissance era
11
Q
What is the Last Supper of the Mass referred to as?
A
- Eucharist (or)
- Holy Communion
12
Q
Mass Proper
A
- changing, variable prayers of the Mass
- linked to church calendar
- sections include; Gradual, Introit, Communion, Alleluia
13
Q
gradual
A
- the 4th section of the Mass Proper (variable texts)
- texts of the gradual are based primarily on the Psalms (poetic texts from the Old Testament)
- generally melistmatic and performed in a responsorial style
14
Q
_ is an important source containing the music and text of many of the chants used in the Roman Catholic services
A
The Liber Usualis (Book of Common Use)
15
Q
The Liber Usualis was compiled in the late 19th century by the monks of the _
A
Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes in France
