Chant Further Developed (jan 1, 900 – jan 1, 1100)

Description:

Now heighted neumes were beginning to be used, which showed a clearer pitch contour. Some thought this more exact notation for pitch sacrificed the performance subtleties of neumes. Enlarging a chant increased its solemnity, so these techniques were especially prevelent for the more important calandar days (ie Christmas). Polyphony will later arise from this same impulse to embellish. Three distinct genres arose and flourished during this time for adding to chant.

Tropes
Expanded existing chant by (1) adding new words and music before the chant and often in between phrases, (2) composing new melodies (extending melismas), and (3) adding only new text (“prose”) which was set to existing melismas.

Sequences
These were sung after the Alleluia, extending the length of the mass. They sometimes drew melodically from Alleluia, but were usually a new composition. One example of this is Dies Irae, which is from Requiem (the Mass for the Dead).

Liturgical dramas
Dialogues added to liturgy.

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