The Word-Music Relationship in the Gregorian and Old Roman Offertories

Abstract

Differences between Gregorian and Roman chant are especially evident in the solo verses of the offertory. The contrast becomes pronounced among offertories assigned to Lent and Paschaltide. A central distinction between offertories of the two traditions is the relationship between melody and text. Eight examples illustrate some of these differences and explore their implications for understanding the relationship between the two dialects. The melodies underwent further development in both dialects after their separation. The sensitivity to the content of the words in some Gregorian offertories is best viewed as a token of the emphasis on literacy in Frankish culture. The Roman tradition developed along different lines, toward an extreme melodic economy upon the aural features of the text.