A custos at the beginning of a piece?

Ralph Bednarz

What does the custos mean when it is at the beginning of a chant?

CHGiffen

Which chant?

JonLaird

Can you post an image or PDF and let us know the source?

ClemensRomanus

In the Chants Abrégés, it seems to be the reciting tone, at least in my humble opinion. Anything else, not sure.

Ralph Bednarz

examples: http://www.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/12/08/06/14-32-47_0.pdf gradual Respice

http://www.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/12/07/30/18-56-13_0.pdf gradual Benedicam

Adam Wood

It seems to be the reciting tone in both cases, as @ClemensRomanus said.

The custos is a singer's aide. I can imagine it being helpful for someone to play the reciting note (as opposed to the starting pitch) before beginning singing.

CHGiffen

Note also that it isn't the usual custos with an ascending stem on the right side; instead, it is an inverted custos-like figure with the stem descending on the left side. I'm not sure it should even be called a custos.

JonLaird

We did have this discussion once before....ah, here it is.

CHGiffen

Ah, July of 2013. No wonder I didn't recall it, even though I was involved in the discussion. It was a difficult summer, that one was.

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