Gregorian Chant: Exemplary Music for the Catholic Liturgy
traditionsanity.substack.com
“Gregorian chant” is one of the richest and most subtle art forms in Western music—indeed, in the music of any culture. It is also, for many reasons, the type of music most perfectly suited to the sacred liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, as her official documents repeatedly teach. In this lecture, I first offer a sketch of the history of chant as the “musical clothing” of the Roman rite, then delve in some detail into the eight characteristics of chant that cumulatively separate it from all other music forms: (1) primacy of the word; (2) free rhythm; (3) modality; (4) unison singing; (5) unaccompanied vocalization; (6) anonymity; (7) emotional moderation; (8) unambiguous sacrality.
Gregorian Chant: Exemplary Music for the Catholic Liturgy
Gregorian Chant: Exemplary Music for the…
Gregorian Chant: Exemplary Music for the Catholic Liturgy
“Gregorian chant” is one of the richest and most subtle art forms in Western music—indeed, in the music of any culture. It is also, for many reasons, the type of music most perfectly suited to the sacred liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, as her official documents repeatedly teach. In this lecture, I first offer a sketch of the history of chant as the “musical clothing” of the Roman rite, then delve in some detail into the eight characteristics of chant that cumulatively separate it from all other music forms: (1) primacy of the word; (2) free rhythm; (3) modality; (4) unison singing; (5) unaccompanied vocalization; (6) anonymity; (7) emotional moderation; (8) unambiguous sacrality.