plainchantinspired

Plainchantinspired is a term used to describe music that draws inspiration from the melodic and modal characteristics of plainchant, also known as Gregorian chant. Plainchant itself is monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of the Roman Catholic Church, originating in the medieval period. Its musical features include a free rhythm, often following the natural rhythm of the text, and a melodic contour that is generally conjunct and avoids large leaps. The melodic material is typically organized around specific modes, which are different from the major and minor scales common in later Western music.

Music that is plainchantinspired may not be sacred in nature, nor is it necessarily monophonic or unaccompanied. Composers who utilize this style often adopt the modal language of plainchant, employing its characteristic scales and melodic inflections. They might also incorporate the sense of fluid rhythm and the declamatory quality often found in chant. The aim is typically to evoke a similar atmosphere of spiritual contemplation, historical resonance, or serene simplicity associated with the original plainchant. This influence can be found in various genres, from contemporary classical music to film scores and even some forms of popular music. The term signifies a deliberate stylistic borrowing rather than a direct imitation or performance of historical plainchant.