Gregorian Chant Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the origins, characteristics, and historical context of Gregorian Chant in the Western world.

Gregorian Chant

The earliest attempts to document music in the Western world, linked with the history of the Roman Catholic Church and performed in the context of church services.

Hebrew chant tradition

The tradition from which Gregorian chant evolved.

Pope Gregory the Great

The figure who lived from $540-604$ and organized and codified chant during his papal reign.

Monophonic texture

A characteristic feature of Gregorian chant involving a single melodic line.

Modal

The melodic system that characterizes Gregorian chant.

Narrow range

A characteristic of Gregorian chant melodies that move step by step.

Plainchant and plainsong

Terms referring to a large body of chants from many different religions and traditions.

Unmeasured rhythm

Music sung without any fixed metrical pattern, following the natural inflections of the text.

Sacred Latin texts

The religious language and source material upon which Gregorian chant is based.

Ambrosian, Gallican, and Mozarabic

Specific regional chant traditions from different religions and traditions besides Gregorian chant.

Functional music

Music that served as a specific part of worship services within the Roman Catholic Church.