Reciting tone

With psalmody singing of psalms, canticles and other sacral (mostly biblical ) texts is referred to on the basis of certain melodic formulas, the psalm tones. These fit in their turns the character of the underlying Kirchentonarten to.

Origin and role model has the psalmody in the ancient Jewish music. On the basis of psalmody, among other things, the forms of singing of Gregorian chant, which she represents in addition to sequence and Jubilus a major form developed. The focus of the psalmody is on properties such as text recitation and intonation. The conductor gives signs to indicate change in pitch and rhythm. Since the 9th century, listed the notes in neumes. The psalmody is listed syllabic.

The profile of the typical psalmody is:

• Initium (beginning)
• Tenor ( recitation, also called repercussa or Tuba )
• For long verses: Flexa ( diffraction ), marked in the text by the symbol † and / or
• Tenor
• Mediatio (mean cadence, also mediant or Pausa called ) before the character * ( asterisk )
• Tenor
• Finalis (final twist, the final cadence, also called Terminatio or punctum )

• Liturgical singing
• Liturgy of the Hours