Special Sub-Topic: Gregorian Chant Click Here To Play: Gregorian Chant

The earliest music of Christianity arose mostly from which tradition?

Jewish communal meals. The most distinctive services of the early Church were not Christianized synagogue or Temple gatherings, but rather the common meals attended by groups of disciples and the family-centered meals similar to the Sabbath meal and the Passover seder.

After the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity, worship developed in monastic communities and in cathedral worship. To what does the word "cathedral" refer?

The bishop's chair. The "cathedra" was the bishop's chair. The early church centered itself around the successors of the original 12 Apostles and grand worship developed in the churches of bishops.

Before Gregorian chant became supreme in the West, other forms of chant thrived in the West. However, all but one fell away. Which one of these chant-forms survived into the 12th century?

Ambrosian Chant of Milan. Ambrosian chant was supposed to have been created by St. Ambrose, so it managed to survive while other forms of chant disappeared.

The musical scale "Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do" has its roots in which Gregorian chant?

Ut queant laxis. The "Ut queant laxis", sung on the feast of St. John the Baptist, rises one note for each phrase. The first syllable for each phrase is "Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La" This gradually became the modern musical scale.

Who invented the musical staff, used to record the exact relationship between notes of music?

Guido of Arezzo. Guido of Arrezzo invented a four-lined staff with a "C" marking where the "Ut" or "Do" note fell on the staff. He lived in the 11th century.

Around the 14th century, the "Ars Nova" began to take root in France. It marked the beginnings of harmony in church music, and the decline of Gregorian Chant. What is the name of this form of harmonious music?

Polyphony. Polyphony, basing its movement on the old Gregorian chant and adding 4 parts of harmony, became the dominant sacred music in the West.

In the late 19th century, a group of Benedictine monks in France created a community that sought to revive the use of Gregorian chant. Where is that monastery located?

Solesmes. The monks at Solesmes, France, have become THE authority on Gregorian chant.

Which pope issued his Motu Proprio in 1903 that banned all secular music in church?

Pope Pius X. This brought Gregorian chant back to prominance in the Church after 500 years of neglect.

According to the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council: "The Church recognizes Gregorian chant as ___________________" ?

especially native to the Roman liturgy. Contrary to popular notions, the Vatican II encouraged the use of Gregorian chant, and Latin, the pipe organ, etc.

Which of these is NOT a Marian antiphon?

Gloria in excelsis Deo. The Gloria is part of the Ordinary of the Mass, and is used for Sundays, Solemnities, and Feasts. The Marian antiphons (I left out Ave Regina Caelorum) are used at the end of Compline (Night Prayer).