old Roman chant

Meaning of Old Roman Chant in Music

Old Roman chant refers to the liturgical plainchant repertory of the Roman rite of the early Christian Church. It was performed in Rome between the 11th and 13th centuries and was discovered around 1890 . Old Roman chant is part of the broader tradition of Gregorian chant, which is the central tradition of Western plainchant in the Roman Catholic Church.

Gregorian chant, including Old Roman chant, is a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song in Latin (and occasionally Greek). It developed mainly in western and central Europe during the 9th and 10th centuries. Although popular legend credits Pope Gregory I with inventing Gregorian chant, scholars believe that it arose from a later Carolingian synthesis of the Old Roman chant and Gallican chant.

Old Roman chant, like Gregorian chant, was traditionally sung by choirs of men and boys in churches or by men and women of religious orders in their chapels. It is the music of the Roman Rite, performed in the Mass and the monastic Office.

The musical notation used in Old Roman chant is valuable because it includes written ornamentations, providing insights into the performance practices of the time.

In summary, Old Roman chant is a specific repertoire of liturgical melodies that was performed in Rome between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is part of the broader tradition of Gregorian chant and is characterized by its monophonic, unaccompanied style and use in the Roman Catholic Church .