"Chironomy" for Polyphony
  • I noticed myself doing something funny recently. It turns out that without even thinking about it my subconscious demands that after I conduct a Gregorian Chant, ie. for Offertory or Communion, using chironomy that the polyphony piece immediately following be conducted using the same type of gestures rather than the patterned 4-4 or 3-4 (or whatever) time signature it may be in. I suppose it works due to the nature of sacred renaissance polyphony... I usually find an appropriate part in the piece to switch, if I even think about it.

    Anyone else? :-)
  • mahrt
    Posts: 517
    I find that when there is a constant alternation of chant and polyphony, e.g., a chant and a motet at the offertory, the tempo of both pieces reaches a a kind of equilibrium, even though the style and the rhythm of the pieces is very different.