Notations of Early Polyphony

Dasian NotationModal Notation

Dasia Notation

Dasia Notation

Dasia Notation• Sources: Musica Enchiriadis and Scolia Enc

hiriadis, anon., s. 9 ex., N. Fr.• importance treatises for the early history of

modal theory and of polyphony in the intellectual environment of the Carolingian Renaissance

• containing the earliest discussions of polyphonic singing (organum) and its notation, citing many late Latin literary and philosophical sources.

Dasia Notation

• Three kinds of organum– octave– fifth

• + octave doubling, choral• + mixture stop on the organ

– fourth• avoid tritones – diabolus in musica!• “artifical” polyphony: parts independent• solistic

Dasia Notation

Dasia Notation

Ex. “Rex celi Domine”

Ex. “Rex celi Domine”

Modal Notation

Modal Notation

• Notre Dame School/Epoch, s. 12 m.–s. 13 m.

• Leonin: optimus organista• Perotin: optimus discantor

– Magnus liber organi de gradali et antiphonario

• Sources: W1, F, W2

Perotin, Organum triplum “Alleluia Nativitas”

W2=WolfenbüttelHerzog August Bibliothek, Codex Guelf. 1099 Helmst., fol. 16r (s. 13 ex.)

Modal NotationEx. Early polyphonic elaborations on Alleluia. Pascha nostrum

Alleluia. Pascha nostrum

Alleluia. Pascha nostrum

Modal Notation (L=longa, B=brevis)

• tenaria ambiguous: LBL, BLB, BBL, LLL, BBB?

Perotin, 4-part clausula “Mors,” W1=Wolfenbüttel, Cod. Guelf. 628 Helmst., fol. 4v. (s. 13 m.)

Organum,Rome, Biblio. Apost. Vat., Fondo Ottoboniano Lat. 3025, f. 49