Gregorian Chant
Also known as Plainchant, Plainsong
A foundational repertory of Western sacred music, Gregorian Chant survives as a living liturgical tradition and as a touchstone for later choral and modal writing.
Origins and context
The repertory developed within the Latin liturgy of the medieval Western Church, especially in monastic and cathedral settings.
The sound
Instrument palette
The voices and tools most associated with this sound.
- Voice
How to listen
Mood
- Meditative
- Austere
- Reverent
History
Gregorian Chant took shape in the early medieval Latin Church, with its repertory and notation becoming more visible in manuscripts from roughly the late 9th century onward. The name points back to Pope Gregory I by longstanding tradition, but modern scholarship treats his direct role as a matter of tradition rather than settled fact. Over time, the chant repertory became a central musical language for the Roman liturgy and a major foundation for later Western music. The Catholic Church has continued to describe Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy, and later revival work, especially at Solesmes, helped preserve and standardize its performance and study. (vatican.va)
Notable artists
- CDChœur des Moines de l'Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes
- MOMonks of the Abbey of Notre Dame
Essential listening
- 1
Chœur des Moines de l'Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes
- 2
- 3
- 4
The Holy See on Gregorian chant in sacred music
Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- vatican.va
Solesmes is a major modern reference point for Gregorian chant preservation and study.
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Gregorian Chant
- Britannica overview of vocal music and Gregorian repertory