plainsong

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plainsong (plainchant) Collection of unharmonized liturgical melodies of the Western Church, traditionally performed unaccompanied. Plainsong goes back to the beginning of the Christian era. The melodies use free rhythms, and the musical ‘scales’ they employ derive from the ‘modes’ of ancient Greek music. In the 6th century, plainsong was reformed, supposedly at the behest of Pope Gregory I (the Great). In this reformed state (known as Gregorian chant), the range of a melody is not more than five notes.

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