2. Center of Western Plainchant
Sacred
Monophonic
Polyphony
Church modes
Strictly vocal
3. Pope Gregory 1
Pope Gregory 1 was responsible for singing
monophonic works/chants to the liturgical calendar of
the church, such as Christmas, Easter.
4. Monophony
Melody without accompanying harmony. This may be
realised as just one note at a time, or with same note
duplicated at the octave
8. Functions
Music for the church.
The language of the God.
Prayer, rituals
Represent the voice of the church.
Enhance liturgy set atmosphere for prayer.
Rituals, sacrifice, birth, death, marriage.
9. Characteristics
• No Rhythmic notation
• No Tempo
• No Dynamic
• No Meter
• No Major or Minor key
• In Modes
• Four Vertical lines
10. Adding
Early Mass (monophonic).
Daily prayer (antiphonic).
Early organum:
1st voice: principal voice.
2nd voice: organal voice.
Polyphonic music:
organum, polyphonic Gregorian Chant.
Characteristic: no rhythmic notation, no tempo, no dynamic.
Compare of Plain songs & Secular songs.
Same: single note notation, no accompaniment, monophonic style.
Different: meter, subject, written language.
Plain songs: religious, Latin only.
Secular songs: wide range of subjects, vernacular language.