What is the difference between plainchant and organum?

What is the difference between plainchant and organum?

is that plainsong is (music) a form of monophonic chant, sung in unison using the gregorian scale and sung in various christian churches while organum is (music) a type of medieval polyphony which builds upon an existing plainsong.

What did organum add to plainchant?

Organum (/ˈɔːrɡənəm/) is, in general, a plainchant melody with at least one added voice to enhance the harmony, developed in the Middle Ages. In its earliest stages, organum involved two musical voices: a Gregorian chant melody, and the same melody transposed by a consonant interval, usually a perfect fifth or fourth.

What does the word plainchant mean?

Plainsong (calque from the French « plain-chant »; hence also plainchant; Latin: cantus planus) is a body of chants used in the liturgies of the Western Church. When referring to the term plainsong, it is those sacred pieces that are composed in Latin text.

What is the difference between motet and organum?

The motet probably arose from the addition of text to the long melismatic passages of organum. The motet took a definite rhythm from the words of the verse, and as such appeared as a brief rhythmic interlude in the middle of the longer, more chantlike organum.

What is the importance of organum?

Organum is a musical style based on plainchant. While one voice sings the primary chant melody, at least one other voice sings along to enhance the harmony. This style is important to musicians, particularly music theorists, because it served as the basis for the development of true counterpoint.

How did organum impact early music composition?

“Parallel” organum was followed, in turn, by “free” organum, which allowed the synchronized voice parts to utilize contrary melodic motion. The decisive relationship between text and melody in early European music led to stylistic distinctions that have survived the ages.

What period is Organum?

Medieval
Organum is a genre of Medieval polyphonic music (music with two or more simultaneous, different voice parts) that reached the peak of its sophistication during the late 1100s-early 1200s in France.

What was plainchant used for?

Plainchant is a form of early Christian music which is monophonic in form, with a single melody sung by an entire group of performers, classically without accompaniment. Plainchant was used to recite the Christian liturgy well through the 13th century, when polyphonic modes began to dominate.

What is the meaning of organum?

Organum, plural Organa, originally, any musical instrument (later in particular an organ); the term attained its lasting sense, however, during the Middle Ages in reference to a polyphonic (many-voiced) setting, in certain specific styles, of Gregorian chant.

What is the difference between organum purum and chant?

Nevertheless, a lot of information can be distilled from the comparative research of their writings. Organum purum is one of three styles of organum, which is used in section where the chant is syllabic thus where the tenor can not be modal.

How was early organum made?

Early organum of this sort (9th–11th century) was, it seems, spontaneously produced by specially trained singers before being committed to manuscript. In more elaborate forms of organum, a freely composed melody was sung note against note above the plainchant.

How is plainchant sung?

The type of plainchant is sung as one voice. No other accompaniment was a choice. No harmony or instruments, they all sang the same. This monophonic texture was incredibly tame. And maybe just copied inflections a smidgen. Each syllable was sung on a single note. This made long free-flowing rhythms for just a small quote.