Medieval - Terms

Question 1

Gregorian Chant

Answer 1

Music for Christian religious observances.

Tunes vary from simple recitation to elaborate melodies, depending on their role in the liturgy.

Question 2

Antiphonal psalmody

Answer 2

Two groups or halves of the choir alternate.

Question 3

Responsorial psalmody

Answer 3

A soloist alternates with the choir or congregation.

Question 4

Direct psalmody

Answer 4

Without alternation.

Question 5

Syllabic setting

Answer 5

Chants in which almost every syllable has a single note.

Question 6

Neumatic setting

Answer 6

Chants in which syllables carry one to six notes or so - generally one neume per syllable.

Question 7

Neume

Answer 7

Signs placed above the words to indicate the melodic gesture for each syllable, including the number of notes, whether the melody ascended, descended, or repeated a pitch, and perhaps rhythm or manner of performance.

Question 8

Jubilus

Answer 8

The final syllable of “alleluia” extended by an effusive melisma.

Question 9

Liturgical drama

Question 10

Modal system

Question 11

Hexachord

Question 12

Solmization

Question 13

Gamut

Question 14

Mutation

Question 15

Chansonniere

Question 16

Roman liturgy

Question 17

Pastourelle

Question 18

Lauda

Question 19

Roman Mass

Question 20

Sequence

Answer 20

Sung after the Alleluia at Mass and set syllabically to a text that is mostly in couplets.

Question 21

Trope

Answer 21

Expanded an existing chant by adding:
(1) new words and music before the chant (an introductory trope) or before each phrase of the chant (an intercalated trope)
(2) melody only, extending melismas or adding new ones
(3) text only (usually called prosula, or “prose”), set to existing melismas.

Question 22

Antiphon

Question 23

Psalm tone

Question 24

Estampie

Question 25

Conductus

Question 26

Chanson de geste

Question 27

Cantigas

Question 28

Melismatic setting

Answer 28

Chants that feature melismas, long melodic passages on a single syllable.