organumitega

Organumitega is a term that appears in some historical texts and musical scholarship, generally referring to a form of early polyphony in Western music. It is believed to be an elaboration or variation of organum, a type of chant sung in parallel motion. The term itself is a portmanteau, combining "organum" with "et_aga," which is thought to be a Latinized form of an Old French term implying addition or augmentation.

The development of organumitega is associated with the period following the era of parallel organum, where two or more voices sang the same melody at different pitches, typically a perfect fourth or fifth apart. Organumitega likely represents a more complex melodic treatment, where the added voices or voice gained more independence and melodic interest, moving more freely against the original chant.

Scholars debate the precise nature and extent of organumitega. Some theories suggest it involved florid embellishments or a greater variety of intervallic relationships compared to earlier forms. Evidence for organumitega is often found in theoretical treatises from the 11th and 12th centuries, though specific musical examples are scarce and their interpretation can be challenging. It is seen as a transitional step in the evolution of polyphony, moving towards the more independent melodic lines found in later Notre Dame organum.