Gregorian chant

Gregorian chant is also known as plainchant or plainsong, and is a form of monophonic, unaccompanied singing, which was developed in the Catholic church, mainly during the period 800-1000. It takes its name from Pope St. Gregory the Great, who is believed to have brought it to the West based on Eastern models of Byzantine chant.

Gregorian chant in the liturgy

Gregorian chant, like the chants of the other rites, was later used to sing only certain parts of the liturgy. The rest of the parts are sung by the bishops, priests, and deacons with a certain default assigning of notes to words depending on their place in a sentence. The parts sung in the Gregorian chant style in the Roman Mass include:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• The Introit
• The Kyrie
• The Gloria
• The Graduale
• The Credo
• The Offertory
• The Sanctus and Benedictus
• The Agnus Dei
• The Communion

The Introit, Graduale, Offertory and Communion texts are called the Propers because they are "proper" to day and season. The Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei remain unchanged, being "ordinary" parts of the Mass and thus called the Ordinary of the Mass. The most complete collection of these chants into modern times was in the publication known as the Liber Usualis (Usual Book), which contains all of the chants for the Tridentine rite.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It should be noted that the Catholic church allowed later music written by individual composers, such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, to replace the Gregorian chant of the Ordinary of the Mass. This is why for example a Mozart Mass would feature the Kyrie but not the Introit.

Related Topics:
Catholic church - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Mozart

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Propers may be replaced by choral settings, as well, on certain solemn occasions. Among the most frequent to compose such polyphonic replacements for the Gregorian chant Propers was English composer William Byrd.

Related Topics:
English - William Byrd

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Even with the advent of polyphony and accompanied melody, Gregorian Chant remained the official liturgical music of the Catholic Church. Popes have enjoined the faithful to give chant the pre-eminence it deserves.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~