I'm teaching an "Intro to Gregorian Chant" series for some home schooled middle schoolers. I would love to teach them a chant via rote using the pre-Guido manuscript tradition (i.e. just text and "squiggles"); any recommendations for an easy proper or antiphon (which has a surviving manuscript) that I could use for this group (most of whom are non-musicians)?
I find this short antiphon a good example as it contains the four basic neumes virga, tractulus, clivis, and pes. Moreover the first three virgae denote an upwards motion of the melody so that the melody is basically fixed by the neumes and the mode.
Vilyanor, I always say that Qui Manducat is the *perfect* teaching piece...it has everything! You can teach the quilisma, liquescent, porrectus, bistropha, Ti/Te...it's got it all!
Dunno if this is helpful at all? I made it a whilst back for someone special but I'm hoping to work out a way to copy it for music rehearsal space walls or as a reference booklet.
To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.