A historical and statistical view on Old-Roman, Gallican, and Gregorian Chant

Abstract

In this article, using a sample of 30 cognate Old-Roman and Gregorian proprium chants, support was obtained for the view that the stylistic features that may be assumed to characterize eighth-century Roman chant—such as the presence of tremulous notes and the use of imprecise pitches—are not only recognizable in Old-Roman chant in the form of a greater focus on stepwise melodic motion and a diminished interest in tonality and melodic structure, but also in those Gregorian chants that manifest a high degree of global contour similarity with their Old-Roman counterparts, the latter sometimes assumed to be the descendent of eighth-century Roman chant. It seems clear therefore that the stylistic features of Old-Roman chant do indeed reflect the pulsating, sinuous and tremulous notes in eighth-century Roman chant. For the remaining Gregorian chants with less contour similarity, rather the opposite characteristics were found. So in this case, and still depending on the general hypothesis that Gregorian chant originated from a blend of eighth-century Roman chant and Gallican influences, Gallican melodies appear to be comparatively more important in the shaping of Gregorian chant. Attention was also paid to the work of Hiley and McGee, as these authors offered additional information about the stylistic features of early local Roman chant. In agreement with the above-stated assumption of tremulous notes and imprecise pitches in eighth-century Roman chant, some evidence was finally obtained to corroborate the view that at least the quilisma note in Gregorian chant originated from eighth-century Roman chant.