De interactie tussen liturgische zang en niet-liturgische liederen

Abstract

The gradual HsAmUB IC17, dating 1571 and used at the altar of the H. Cross in the parish church of St Mary's, Amsterdam, contains a number of late medieval songs, both in one part and polyphonic, mostly in Latin but some in vernacular. Many of these are also known from late medieval non-liturgical song books. With the Amsterdam gradual as a starting point research can be undertaken into liturgical chant and late medieval genres like Latin song, simple polyphony and vernacular devotional song. Many connections can be established between these repertoires: it turns out that liturgical chant was a a breeding ground on which the other styles could flourish, though occasionally it was the other way around when a non-liturgical song served a liturgical function. It appears that for the younger styles the liturgy and its chant formed a source of inspiration without which the non-liturgical compositions cannot be understood.