Download Basic_Plainchant - All Saints Anglican Church

BASIC PLAINCHANT
AN INTRODUCTION
CHANT NOTATION
The “Fa” Clef
Indicates the “Fa” of the
Scale (Looks like an F)
The “Do” Clef
Indicates the “Do” of the
Scale (Looks like a C)
CHANT NOTATION
• Neumes
• Indicates Pitch
• Shape Doesn’t
Matter
CHANT NOTATION
• Neumes
• Does Not Indicate
Rhythm
• Text Dictates
Rhythm
CHANT NOTATION
• Dotted Neumes
• (Mora)
• Lengthens the Note
• Usually Double
CHANT NOTATION
• Parallel Neumes
• Podatus or Pes (“foot”)
• Ascending Notes
(Lower First)
• Always one syllable
CHANT NOTATION
• Diagonal Neumes
• Clivis (“by slope”)
• Descending Notes
(Higher First)
• Always one syllable
CHANT NOTATION
• Flatted Neumes
• Lowers the Note
By a Half Step
• Always occurs on “B”
Making “Ti” into “Te”
• Resembles a “b”
CHANT NOTATION
• Bar Lines
• Quarter Bar
• Breathe if necessary
• Often at a comma
CHANT NOTATION
• Bar Lines
• Half Bar
• Short Breath
• Often at the “Flex”
or semi-colon
CHANT NOTATION
• Bar Lines
• Full Bar
• Choral Breath
• Often at the Half Verse
(indicated by “*” in text)
CHANT NOTATION
• Bar Lines
• Double Bar
• Choral Breath
• Often at the
Ending of a Verse
CHANT NOTATION
• Bar Lines (Comparison)
•
•
•
•
Quarter
Half
Full
Double
READING CHANT
PSALM TONES
• Musical Elements
• Intonation (sung only first verse, except in Gospel
Canticals)
• Recitation (main note that is sung)
• Mediation (Mediant) – Middle Cadence at half verse
PSALM TONES
PSALM TONES
• Musical Elements
• Ending – Final Cadence at end of verse
• Flex – occasional quarter verse, typically indicated in
text rather than music
PSALM TONES
PSALM TONES
• Musical Elements
• Hollow Neume – sung if necessary, omitted if not
• Dotted Neume – Lengthened (usually at end of
cadence)
PSALM TONES
PSALM TONES
• Textual Elements (Pointed Text)
• Dot to separate recitation from cadences
• Asterisk (Star) to separate half verses
PSALM TONES
PSALM TONES
• Textual Elements (Pointed Text)
• Flex Indications
• Obelisk (dagger) – indicates breath
• Caron (wedge) – drop from reciting note
• Macron (straight bar) – remain on reciting note
PSALM TONES
PSALM TONES
PSALM TONES
PSALM TONES
• Note: Text drives the singing
• Note: Endings at the Mediation are based on the
accented syllables
• Note: Flex is based on accented syllables