Melodies of the Prefaces Outside Mass in the 12th-Century Pontificale Plocense

Abstract

The paper discusses the prefaces outside Mass supplied with melodies that can be found in the 12th-century Pontificale Plocense (Seminary Library in Płock, Poland). Firstly, a short characterization of the manuscript is presented, the beginnings of the singing of prefaces as well attempts to note down the melodies is discussed. Next, the prefaces outside Mass are analysed with emphasis placed on the musical cadences with cheironomic notation. In addition, a comparison is undertaken between the discussed Pontifical and the Pontificals of Kraków (11th/12th c.) and of Wrocław (12th c.). It is possible that the recitative of the prefaces was subject to various degrees of melodisation, which was connected with the varying influence of compound neumes. The melodic versions of the cadences represent the varieties in tono solemnis and in tono solemniori. Numerous patterns of cadences in tono solemniori point to attempts to create new melodic patterns.