Gregoriansk

Gregoriansk, or Gregorian chant, is a form of liturgical music in the Western Christian tradition. It represents the central tradition of Western plainchant, traditionally performed during the Roman Catholic Mass and the Divine Office, though it has also been used in some Anglican and Lutheran contexts. The melodies are typically sung in Latin, a cappella, by male voices, and are largely monophonic with no instrumental accompaniment.

Origins and development: The repertoire is named after Pope Gregory I (c. 540–604), though the chants were collected and organized over several centuries. Standardization occurred mainly in the 9th and 10th centuries during the Carolingian Renaissance, aided by the development of musical notation that allowed more precise preservation of melodies. Gregorian chant is considered modal, associating melodies with one of eight church modes, and generally follows free rhythm guided by the text rather than a fixed meter.

Form and liturgical function: The chant is divided into the Mass Ordinary (texts that recur in every Mass) and the Proper (texts that vary with the day and season). It also includes antiphons, psalms, hymns, and sequences. Texts are Latin and drawn from Scripture and liturgical prayer. The performance practice emphasizes chant clarity and liturgical purpose rather than virtuosity.

Notations and influence: Early chants were transmitted orally before being notated with neumes; later notation introduced staff lines that helped indicate pitch. Gregorian chant influenced later Western liturgical music and the development of polyphony. The 19th and 20th century saw a revival, notably at Solesmes Abbey, and it remains a standard repertory in Catholic liturgy and in some ecumenical and scholarly settings.