hypophrygian

Hypophrygian is the plagal form of the Phrygian mode within the medieval system of church modes, primarily associated with Gregorian chant and other medieval liturgical music. In this framework, each authentic mode has a corresponding plagal counterpart; Hypophrygian is the plagal partner to Phrygian and shares the same final note, which is E.

As a plagal mode, Hypophrygian differs from its authentic counterpart in melodic emphasis and range. Plagal modes typically feature a broader ambitus and a different reciting or tenor tone, producing a softer, more flexible melodic center than the authentic Phrygian. This results in characteristic cadences and melodic formulas that distinguish Hypophrygian from the Phrygian authentic mode, even though the finalis remains the same.

The term Hypophrygian derives from Greek elements meaning “under Phrygian,” reflecting its historical position as a lower or plagal variant within the system. In practice, the Hypophrygian mode appears in portions of the Gregorian repertoire and in some medieval chant traditions, though it is less central than the primary eight-mode scheme in later eras.

In modern scholarship, Hypophrygian is primarily a historical category used to understand medieval tonal organization and liturgical function. It illustrates how medieval theorists categorized pitch, cadence, and modal identity, rather than serving as a common tonal center in contemporary composition.