quadruplum

Quadruplum. (Latin, "quadruple") (1) In polyphony of the late-twelfth through fourteenth centuries, the fourth voice from the bottom in a four-voice texture, added to a tenor, duplum, and triplum. (2) In Notre Dame polyphony, an organum in four voices. Conductus.

The fourth voice (highest) in a polyphonic composition ( organum) having four or more voices.

1. : the third voice part in medieval polyphony counting upward from the tenor inclusive. 2. : a musical composition for three voice parts.

Duplum, triplum, and quadruplum are the names of voices in ascending order above the tenor. Therefore, a three-voice organum was called an organum triplum, and a four-voice organum was called an organum quadruplum.

Musical forms and style Prior to Perotin, organum generally consisted of two voices: organum duplum. He pioneered the styles of organum triplum and organum quadruplum (three and four-part polyphony); in fact his Sederunt principes and Viderunt Omnes are among only a few organa quadrupla known.

three voices A. Motets are now quite often for three voices (two voices with text and the Tenor). The Tenor at first is still organized into its repeatable rhythmic cells and moves at about the same speed of the other voices. The upper voices generally have two different French texts.

The cantus firmus is a fixed melody derived from plainchant. It was historically used in multi-voiced polyphonic sacred song settings. It would typically be paired with a second voice that would move note by note with the cantus firmus or perform a flourished melody.

Organum (a term drawn from the Greek word for “organ, instrument, tool”) is a style of plainchant melody (think: chanting monks) that dates back to the Middle Ages. In its earliest days, “organum” described what we now call polyphony – combining two or more harmonized melodies.

Pérotin's The bishop's edicts are quite specific, and suggest that Pérotin's organum quadruplum Viderunt omnes was written for Christmas 1198, and his other organum quadruplum Sederunt Principes was composed for St. Stephen's Day (26 December), 1199, for the dedication of a new wing of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

motet, (French mot: “word”), style of vocal composition that has undergone numerous transformations through many centuries. Typically, it is a Latin religious choral composition, yet it can be a secular composition or a work for soloist(s) and instrumental accompaniment, in any language, with or without a choir.

The most famous motet from the Classical period is Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus. In the Romantic period (19th century), Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) wrote several motets which are still very popular with choirs, both in services and at concerts.

From Latin vōx (“voice”). Doublet of voice.