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Gregorian Chant . By Grace Karas . History of Gregorian Chant. Unaccompanied singing has been part of the Christian liturgy since the earliest days of the Church. Following the legalisation of Christianity in 313, different forms and flavours of chant began to develop by region.
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Gregorian Chant By Grace Karas
History of Gregorian Chant • Unaccompanied singing has been part of the Christian liturgy since the earliest days of the Church. • Following the legalisation of Christianity in 313, different forms and flavours of chant began to develop by region. • Roman Spain produced Mozarabic chant, whose title refers to the Moorish rule over Spanish Christians after the invasion of 711. • In fact, the chant was composed and complete by the 7th Century, and altered little thereafter. • In fact, the chant was composed and complete by the 7th Century, and altered little thereafter.
About Gregorian Chants • Gregorian chants are a body of chants of the Roman Catholic Church, most of which are part of two liturgical rites, the Mass and the Offices. Origins are traditionally are ascribed to the period of Pope Gregory I 590-604. • The sacred music of the Gregorian Chant was also known as plainchant, or plainsong and named after Pope Gregory. This music consisted of a single line of melody with a flexible rhythm sung to Latin words by unaccompanied male voices. • Manuscripts date from ninth century and used a system of modes, specific patterns of whole and half steps. This single line of melody, called monophony, characterized music until about 1000 AD.
Modern Use • in modern Catholicism, as of 2010, the chants are used less frequently in worship. • Often the choir will sing certain parts of the service -- an introit, key prayers and the text of the mass -- but rarely does the congregation join in. • The chants offer some change of pace to the worship instead of forming the key liturgical substance. • Gregorian chant is also used as concert repertoire with groups such as The Canterbury Gregorian Music Society and The Schola Gregorian is the Cambridge specializing in authentic interpretations.
Influence • Gregorian chant melodies have had a wide influence on classical music. • The 19th and 20th century French composers such as Debussy, Durufle and Poulenc often used extracts of Gregorian chant in their pieces, as did Edward Bairstow in his well known anthem "Blessed City, Heavenly Salem."
Movie on Gregorian Chant • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEZPBtuuHTU