plainsongs
Unaccompanied liturgical chants
Plainsongs are unaccompanied liturgical chants, particularly the monophonic melodies of medieval Christian worship.
The term covers Gregorian chant and similar traditions—music sung in unison without instrumental backing or harmony: The monks' plainsongs echoed through the stone abbey.
The singular plainsong can refer to this style of sacred music collectively.
Repetitive rhythmic phrase
- GregorianNamed for a pope
- monasticOf religious community life
- antiphonAlternating liturgical song
- psalmSacred scriptural song
vespers · matins · compline · Office · breviary · canticle · introit · gradual
Having one voice
- unaccompaniedWithout others present
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- modalPertaining to form
- unisonSimultaneous identical action
notation · cantus · tone · inflection · cadence · recitation · syllabic · melismatic
Of the Middle Ages
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
- illuminatedMade visible by light
- restorationReturning something to condition
Guido · notation · codex · troubadour · liturgy · Carolingian · reform · tradition
chant
Repetitive rhythmic phrase
psalm · vespers · matins · compline · Office · breviary · canticle · introit · gradual · alleluia
monophonic
Having one voice
- unaccompaniedWithout others present
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- modalPertaining to form
unison · notation · cantus · tone · inflection · cadence · recitation · syllabic · melismatic · drone
medieval
Of the Middle Ages
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
- illuminatedMade visible by light
restoration · Guido · notation · codex · troubadour · liturgy · Carolingian · reform · tradition · oral
plainsongspolyphony
Simultaneous independent melodic lines
madrigals · part-songs · motets · counterpoint · four-part harmony
plainsongsdance music
Beat-driven party audio
marches · waltzes · jazz · pop songs · rock music
plainsongsoratorios
Large-scale sacred vocal works
operas · symphonies · Romantic music · grand opera · concertos