Scan 261
The American history and encyclopedia of music, 1908
35 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. Printed page 236. See the scan on archive.org.
1Greek modes and music
2the diazeuxis between the tetrachords. The other six are composed of conjoined tetrachords, joined by a common tone and having the diazeuxis either before or after the tetrachords.
4The modes were combined so as to make a scale embracing two octaves. Fifteen of these scales were recognized by the later writers of music, each beginning on a different pitch, a half step higher than the preceding scale. These scales were also called modes, and thus a great confusion exists as to the meaning of the term mode. Each of these later scales had a special esthetic and moral value about which there was much discussion. An author chose a certain mode for his composition according to the sentiment which he was expressing, as for example, the Dorian was considered severe, grave and manly.
6To the original system as here described, later writers made various additions, inserting half steps between the whole steps until they possessed a complete chromatic scale with which they acquired much freedom of transposition. The transposed scales were named from the one whose steps they resembled.
8The Greek notation was very complicated, two sets of signs being used. The one for the voice was composed of the letters of the ordinary Ionic alphabet. That for instruments is thought by some writers to be founded upon cabalistic signs for the heavenly bodies, but others explain them as the first fourteen letters of an old Doric alphabet.
10Greek music
11The Greeks gave music a very high place in their arts. But it was so hampered by theory that its development was limited, and their musical compositions lacked both variety and harmony. Greek music lacks gaiety; it seems best suited to tragic expression, for its tones resemble the minor key. No chords were used in the Greek music, it consisted only of the melody.
13Gregorian
14This means collected or arranged by Pope Gregory I. in the Sixth Century.
16Gregorian chant
17A method of intoning the mass and selections from the Scriptures, which was perfected by Pope Gregory in the Sixth Century from material which had already been arranged by Ambrose of Milan in the Fourth Century, the origin of which is lost in antiquity, being attributed variously to the Hebrews, Greeks, the early Christian Church or even to the Phoenicians or Egyptians. The Gregorian chant was written in eight different modes or scales, four of which are said to have originated with Gregory. These modes correspond somewhat to the Greek manner of writing music, and differ from the modern major and minor scales in the placing of the semitones. In the free recitation of the text with cadences, especially at the ends of sentences, each syllable may receive either a single note or one or more groups of notes. The original manner of writing the chants, by means of a short-hand character called a neuma, was replaced in the Eleventh Century by a staff of four lines upon which the notes appeared as square or diamond-shaped characters. The neuma indicated the rhythmical movement, but the later notation, while a more exact manner of representing pitch, left the rhythm to be handed down orally. As a result much of the original character of the rhythm has been lost, and the efforts of modern church musicians are being exerted toward its restoration. The earnestness and solemnity of the Gregorian chant peculiarly adapts it to the celebration of the mass and other church ceremonies, and the present pope, Pius X., has done much toward restoring Gregorian music in its original purity.
19Gregorian letters
20This name is given to the letters a b c d e f g applied to the tones of the scale. It was believed that Gregory originated this method of notation.
22Gregorian tone
23A melody written in the Gregorian style. See also Gregorian chant.
25gregorianisch (grē-gō-rī-ān'-ish) Ger. adj.
26Gregorian.
27gregorianischer Gesang (grā-gō-rī-ān'-ish-ēr gē-sāng') Ger.
28Gesang is German for song; hence Gregorian chant.
29gregoriano (grā-gō-rī-ā'-nō) It. adj.
30Gregorian.
31gregorien (grā-gō-rē-ān') Fr. adj.
32Gregorian.
33greifen (grī'-ēn) Ger. v.
34This verb means to take hold of: applied to music it means to strike a note on a piano or other instrument;
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