Gregorian Chant and the Gregorian Chant and the Liturgy:Liturgy:

Rocco SementelliRocco Sementelli

A Basis for the Evolution of Modern Drama

AbstractAbstractThis presentation shall, through This presentation shall, through explanation of Roman Catholic Liturgy explanation of Roman Catholic Liturgy and Gregorian chant, accurately and Gregorian chant, accurately document the transition from Church document the transition from Church liturgy to modern day performance. By liturgy to modern day performance. By way of analyzing Gregorian chant, way of analyzing Gregorian chant, antiphony, Stations of the Cross, and antiphony, Stations of the Cross, and early Church drama, the obvious early Church drama, the obvious evolution of modern drama from the evolution of modern drama from the Roman Catholic Church Liturgy will be Roman Catholic Church Liturgy will be made manifest.made manifest.

In Opposition to Dr. In Opposition to Dr. RankinRankin

The origins of such plays [the two The origins of such plays [the two genres of genres of Quem queritis Quem queritis plays] can plays] can be traced not only to the chants and be traced not only to the chants and semi-representational ceremonies of semi-representational ceremonies of the liturgy, but also to the traditions the liturgy, but also to the traditions of classical drama fostered in court of classical drama fostered in court circles and schools.circles and schools.

Monophony vs Monophony vs PolyphonyPolyphony

A style of composition A style of composition having a single having a single melodic line melodic line (monophony). (monophony).

Known as “Plainchant”Known as “Plainchant” Dates back before Dates back before

ChristChrist Originated from Originated from

psalms and canticles psalms and canticles

Music with two or more Music with two or more independent melodic independent melodic parts sounded parts sounded together. together.

Consists of Gregorian, Consists of Gregorian, Ambrosian, Galliean, Ambrosian, Galliean, and Mozarabic chantsand Mozarabic chants

Evolved from Evolved from plainchant plainchant

Gregorian and Gregorian and Ambrosian are the only Ambrosian are the only surviving formssurviving forms

PlainchantPlainchant

AntiphonsAntiphons And there hymns and antiphons appropriate to And there hymns and antiphons appropriate to

the day and place are said, together with the day and place are said, together with lessons and prayers interspersed. And now lessons and prayers interspersed. And now when it will begin the eleventh hour, that when it will begin the eleventh hour, that passage from the Gospel is read where the passage from the Gospel is read where the children, with branches and palms, ran to children, with branches and palms, ran to meet the Lord…. And at the once the bishop meet the Lord…. And at the once the bishop rises, together with all the people… all the rises, together with all the people… all the people go before him with hymns and people go before him with hymns and antiphons.antiphons.

~Lady Etheria~Lady Etheria

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vP6pCnGukx8

Stations of the CrossStations of the Cross Christ condemned to death; Christ condemned to death; the cross is laid upon him; the cross is laid upon him; His first fall; His first fall; He meets His Blessed Mother; He meets His Blessed Mother; Simon of Cyrene is made to Simon of Cyrene is made to

bear the cross; bear the cross; Christ's face is wiped by Christ's face is wiped by

Veronica; Veronica; His second fall; His second fall; He meets the women of He meets the women of

Jerusalem; Jerusalem; His third fall; His third fall; He is stripped of His garments; He is stripped of His garments; His crucifixion; His crucifixion; His death on the cross; His death on the cross; His body is taken down from the His body is taken down from the

cross; and cross; and laid in the tomb.laid in the tomb.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8MwZL5G13j0

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g9QF9uMQAss

Ambrosian ChantAmbrosian Chant Precursor to Precursor to

Gregorian ChantGregorian Chant Introduced by St. Introduced by St.

Ambrose around Ambrose around 370370

Gregorian ChantGregorian Chant http://http://

www.youtube.com/www.youtube.com/watch?watch?v=hIiYbrnANUMv=hIiYbrnANUM

The Visitatio Sepulchri The Visitatio Sepulchri

““Whom do you seek in the sepulcher, Whom do you seek in the sepulcher, O followers of Christ?” O followers of Christ?”

““Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified O heaven dweller”. O heaven dweller”.

The Service for Representing The Service for Representing AdamAdam

Written in French Written in French Rhyming CoupletsRhyming Couplets LengthLength Non-Biblical Events Non-Biblical Events

Cycle Plays, Morality Plays, and the Cycle Plays, Morality Plays, and the

RenaissanceRenaissance:: Noah (Wakefield): Noah (Wakefield):

“For betyn shall “For betyn shall thou be with this thou be with this staf to thou stink”.staf to thou stink”.

Everyman Everyman and and MankindMankind

Personification of Personification of Death,Death,

Fellowship, etc Fellowship, etc

The Tragicall History The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus.of Doctor Faustus.

Emphasis on Emphasis on knowledge, breaking knowledge, breaking away from the away from the ChurchChurch

Works CitedWorks Cited "monophony." "monophony." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionThe American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition . .

Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 19 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 19 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://http://dictionary.reference.comdictionary.reference.com/browse/monophony/browse/monophony>. >.

"polyphony." "polyphony." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionThe American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition . Houghton . Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 19 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com Mifflin Company, 2004. 19 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://http://dictionary.reference.comdictionary.reference.com/browse/polyphony/browse/polyphony>. >.