Pause (neume)

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The pause (Latin for interruption ; also divisio Latin for division ) is a pause sign in the square notation of neumes in Gregorian chant . In the various editions, such as the Liber Usualis or the Graduale Romanum , a distinction is made between four different forms of pause:

  • Examples of pause

  • Pausa minima (Latin for very little interruption )

  • Pausa minor (Latin for small interruption )

  • Pausa maior (Latin for major interruption )

  • Pausa finalis (Latin for final interruption )

interpretation

Pausa minima

During the pause minima , the voice is held out briefly or, if necessary, the shortest possible breath is taken. Otherwise, interruptions of the presentation are to be avoided, especially within words or groups of neumes. If several singers sing - for example in a choral schola - choral breathing is preferable. In the more recent editions, such as the Graduale Romanum, the pausa minima is occasionally supplemented with an overlying slur to indicate that the flow of the melody should not be interrupted if possible.

The pausa minima is similar to the breath sign in modern music notation .

Pausa minor

The pause minor is at places where it is advisable to take a break to breathe. In the Gregorian chant editions, it appears frequently when the lyrics are accompanied by a comma .

Pausa maior

The Pausa maior stands for a break where you can take a deep breath. In the issues they often surfaced in sending to, or if the lyrics with a colon is provided. The closing tone before the pause maior is also sustained longer.

Pausa finalis

The pausa finalis always comes at the end of a Gregorian chant, but is also used to mark the change from chorale choir to choral schola or from choral schola to community.

The jubilus on the word Alleluia in the proprium chant of the same name is also concluded by a pausa finalis, since the word "Alleluia" is repeated again after the end of the subsequent Alleluia verse.