Higher Music SQA

Styles: Plainchant

Definition

• Plainchant is a single line of melody, sung in unison without instrumental accompaniment. It is also known as Gregorian chant.

Historical Background

• The term 'plainchant' comes from the Latin 'cantus planus', meaning 'clear song'. It is one of the earliest forms of music notation known.
• It was primarily used in the Christian church liturgy, particularly in the Roman Catholic tradition. It originated around the 9th or 10th Century.
• Named after Pope Gregory I, who is traditionally believed to have ordered the codification of church music during his papacy from 590-604 AD.

Characteristics of Plainchant

• Plainchant is monophonic, which means it's made up of a single, unaccompanied melodic line.
• There is no regular metre in plainchant. Instead, the rhythm is dictated by the Latin liturgical text.
• Melodies are often narrow in range and are sometimes set to Latin texts.
• Several modes, scales used in plainchant, were used to create different moods, providing variety to the music. Modes used in plainchant are known as church modes.

Types of Plainchant

• There are several types of plainchant, including responsorial and antiphonal chants. In responsorial singing, a soloist or small group sings verses that are responded to by the full choir. In antiphonal singing, two halves of the choir sing in alternation.
• Another type is the Gregorian chant, named after Pope Gregory the Great, which is the most well-known type of plainchant.

Significance of Plainchant

• Plainchant had a considerable influence on the development of Western music, contributing significantly to the evolution of musical notation.

Listening

• Listening to various examples of plainchant can help understand the simplicity, tranquillity, and spirituality associated with this style of music.

Key Terms

• Monophonic: Musical texture involving a single melodic line, without any accompanying harmony or chords.
• Church modes: The scales used in plainchant, also known as ecclesiastical modes. These include Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian.
• Responsorial and antiphonal chants: Types of chants where a leader sings a line and is followed by a response from the choir or congregation. In responsorial singing, the leader and the choir sing different texts. In antiphonal singing, the same text is usually sung by both sides, but in alternation.