Chant Notation

Instead of a five-lined staff, as in modern musical notation, Gregorian chant uses a four-lined staff.  None of the lines or spaces has a permanently assigned tone.  There will always be an indicator at the beginning of each staff, telling you which notes are sung on the lines and spaces.

A Fa-clef, as on the right, indicates where the note Fa is sung.  In the picture to the right, Ti would be sung on the bottom line, Re on the second line, Fa on the third line, and La on the top line.

A "C" on a line indicates that the note sung on that line is Do.  In the picture to the right, Fa would be sung on the bottom line, La on the next line, Do on the third line, and Mi on the top line.

The Neumes:

When one note is written on top of another, the bottom note is sung first and then the top note.  This is called a podatus.

If the note has a small vertical line attached, it is the same as a punctum and is called a virga.

If the square note has a dot next to it, this lengthens the note, and it is called a punctum mora.

When the higher note is sung first, it is written like this.  It is called a clivis.

The basic quare note is called a punctum.

Three notes going down and then back up is called a porrectus (flexus resupinus

Three notes going downward is called a climacus.

Three notes going upward is called a scandicus.

Three notes going up and then back down is called a torculus (pes flexus).

A porrectus with a low note at the end is called a porrectus flexus.

Four notes going up, down, and then up again is called a torculus resupinus.

Four notes going upward is called a virga praetripunctis.

Four notes going downward is called a virga subtripunctis.

One note up and then two notes down is called a pes subbipunctus.

Three notes going up followed by a low note is called a scandicus flexus.

A climacus followed by a higher note is called a climacus resupinus.

Some neumes have a small note attached where the end of a syllable is sung.  These are called liquescents.

This accidental, a B-flat, is called a soft note.  It is sung as "Ta" rather than "Ti".

A neume with a jagged line in the middle indicates that the first note is held slightly longer and the middle note is held slightly shorter.  This is called a quilisma.

A horizontal episema indicates that notes should be held longer.

A vertical episema indicates where the ictus, or accented note, falls.

The custos at the end of each line indicates where the next note will be.

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Gregorian Chant Notation

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