Gregorian chant is unaccompanied unison singing in Latin named after Pope St. Gregory I (the Great) (c. 540-604) during the Middle Ages. He didn’t invent it; however, he did start the first schola cantorum (song school) in Rome where the chant was taught. Eventually, many more such schools were set up throughout Europe.

What gives Gregorian chant its unique style is that each melody is completely determined by its lyrics; consequently, some words are sung syllabically, with only one note per syllable, or “melismatically,” where a single syllable is to be sung across several notes. Sometimes chants include a special high note for emphasizing an important word in the text, while rhythm is usually determined by the words themselves, suggesting that artistic sensitivity is essential for setting tone and conveying a chant’s meaning.

Gregorian chant is music sung directly from the heart; therefore, it cannot be underestimated in its contribution to Catholic liturgy. Its haunting quality helps us to transcend our ordinariness and experience the sacred.

See also:

• Gregorian Chant, in the Catholic Encyclopedia
• Pope St. Gregory the Great, in the Catholic Encyclopedia
• Gregorian Chant in Wikipedia

With much appreciation to Robby Moore for this introduction to Gregorian Chant.