«Dusty shelves of Gothic lore». La ricezione della modalità gregoriana da Rameau a Gevaert
Giulio Minniti
The ritual practice and historical-analytical study of Gregorian chant in the eighteenth nineteenth centuries are topics still scarcely explored by current musicology. This contribution intends to examine interpretation that historians theorists period gave a particular aspect chant, i.e. modal system; article will proceed from analysis commentary wider-scope works (such as biographies, encyclopedias histories) some late-19th-century treatises more specifically dedicated chant. Until second half 1800 – when new interest for medieval music arose were bound treatise-writing had largely been kept unaltered since mid-eleventh century: this was certainly true what concerned so-called ‘scalar’ notion late Renaissance modes (frequently equated). On other hand, Auguste Gevaert (1828-1909) could take advantage dependable medieval-Gregorian scholarship started only on century. His research is revolutionary under several points view: he broke centuries-old historiographical traditions, most striking case being ‘myth’ Ambrose Gregory inventors respectively authentic plagal modes. First mentioned [Pseudo]Alcuin, argument fact resisted whole millennium, namely until Gevaert. In addition, reevaluated ‘qualitative’ approach modality, typical first Carolingian theorists, rigour, methodology critical thinking research. By giving renewed musicological dignity, equal accorded modern music, studies, positively projected them towards twentieth
Rivista Italiana Di Musicologia