Gregorian Chant Notes from KET Video

Basic Information on Gregorian Chant

• It is ALWAYS sung in Latin

• It was always sung by Monks/Priests in Religious Ceremonies

• Let’s Look at the Use of Musical Elements

MELODY/HARMONY

• All parts sung are unison– Only 1 part– No Harmony– No Chords or triads– All Sing Together on the same line

RHYTHM/TEMPO

• VERY FREE

• There is no time signature or strict rhythm

• There are only LONG NOTES and “NOT AS LONG” Notes…

Timbre

• Tone Color of the human voice

• ALL MALE VOICES…

• Try to sound like on voice, adds to sacred nature of music.– Remember, Gregorian Chant is written ONLY

for religious purposes and ceremonies

DYNAMICS

• Nothing is marked on the music as “piano” “mezzo piano” or “forte”

• As notes get higher on the staff (4 lines remember), the volume gets louder…

• As notes get lower on the staff, the volume gets softer…

3 Performance Types

• Direct Performance– All Sing Together the Whole Song

• Antiphonal Performance– Splits the group in two halves

• ½ would sing one phrase,the other ½ would sing the second phrase

• Responsorial Performance– A Soloist sings the first phrase, then all other

sing a phrase. (Call & Response)