church modes
Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian
Church modes are a system of seven musical scales that formed the basis of Western music from medieval times through the Renaissance.
Each mode—Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian, and Ionian—uses the same notes as a major scale but starts on a different degree, producing distinct melodic qualities.
Originally used in Gregorian chant, they predate and influenced the modern major-minor system.
- medieval musicEuropean compositions, 500-1400 CE
- Gregorian chantMonophonic Catholic liturgical music
- monophonyUnaccompanied single melody
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- psalmodySacred vocal music practice
hymnody · Aeolian · authentic · Lydian · Dorian · chant · Ionian · ecclesiastical · modal · Renaissance · tonic · sacred · medieval monasteries · antiphon · monastery · tetrachord · scales · tonality
- music theorynote, notes, chord, chords, harmony
- Early Musicmedieval music, Gregorian chant, Renaissance music, motet, baroque music
- Modal MusicKind of Blue
- plainchantplainsong, Gregorian chant, plainchant, antiphon, introit
- sacred musichymns, hymn, anthem, anthems, gospel
- Liturgical MusicGregorian chant, plainchant, plainsong, hymn, psalm
church modesmajor scale
Heptatonic pattern with semitones
minor scale · chromatic scale · serialism · atonality · major key
church modessecular music
Non-sacred musical works
dance music · popular music · folk music · madrigals · court music