The Recovering Choir Director

This tutorial will show the student of chant how to configure GNU Solfege to enable listening and singing exercises on the authentic Gregorian chant modes I, III, V and VII. The plagal modes II, IV, VI and VIII are related to the mode numerically preceding them; while this tutorial will not address the plagal modes directly, familiarity with these exercises will help the student identify the close relationship each plagal mode has to its authentic companion. The only prerequisite to this tutorial is that the student can recognize pitches. Terminology unfamiliar to the student will become more familiar once he begins to assimilate the tutorial into his mind’s ear.

Students and teachers who wish to follow this tutorial step-by-step are encouraged to download and install GNU Solfege and its supporting programs on their computer before continuing with the rest of the tutorial.

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A reader inquired about how he could use the GNU Solfege freeware ear-training program to help acquire foundational skills required to learn Gregorian Chant. This is an interesting question; GNU Solfege covers a lot of material beyond the minimum required for Gregorian Chant, and yet lacks features best addressed by actually singing in a schola cantorum or at a Mass where singing of the chant is regularly employed.

This tutorial will show the student of chant how to use GNU Solfege to solidify recognition of the subset of melodic intervals employed in Gregorian chant. The only prerequisite to this tutorial is that the student can recognize pitches. Terminology unfamiliar to the student will become more familiar once he begins to assimilate the tutorial into his mind’s ear.

Students and teachers who wish to follow this tutorial step-by-step are encouraged to download and install GNU Solfege and its supporting programs on their computer before continuing with the rest of the tutorial.

Read the rest of this entry »