Plainsong

Broadly speaking, plainsong is the name given to the body of traditional songs used in the liturgies of the Catholic Church. The liturgies of the Orthodox Church, though in many ways similar, are generally not classified as plainsong, though the musical form is nearly as old as Christendom itself.

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Plainsong is monophonic, and is in free rather than measured rhythm. Gregorian chant is a variety of plainsong that was standardized by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century CE, and represents the first revival of musical notation after knowledge of the ancient Greek system was lost. Plainsong notation differs from the modern system in having only four lines to the staff and a system of note-shapes called neumes.

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There was a significant plainsong revival in the 19th century CE when much work was done to restore the correct notation and performance-style of the old plainsong collections, notably by the monks of the Abbaye de Solesmes in Northern France. The use of plainsong is now mostly confined to the Monastic Orders.

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Liturgies: redirect liturgy...

Catholic Church: The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, It was first used to describe the Christian Church in the early second century. Since the East-West Schism, the Western Church has been known as "Catholic", while the Eastern Church has been known as "Orthodox". The name "Catholic Church"...

Orthodox Church: The Orthodox Church, also officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to in English-speaking countries as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the world's second largest Christian communion, estimated to number 300 million members....

Plainsong related Images and Photos (experimental)

Plainsong

Plainsong (Paperback) Book