Charlemagne's Archetype of Gregorian Chant

Abstract

Argues that the "Gregorian" repertory of Mass propers was fully neumed under Charlemagne, a century sooner than is generally supposed. The chief witness is an "apocryphal" Offertory, Factus est repente for Pentecost. Affected are widely-held views concerning: (1) the origin of neumes; (2) the impact of oral-improvisational techniques on Gregorian chant; and (3) the origin and relationship of Gregorian and Old Roman chant styles.