Quartorganum

The Quartorganum (see Organum ) is a very early form of polyphony in Gregorian music around the 9th century. The main melody was from the principal - voice sung, in addition, a fourth lower by another voice and sometimes (of boys' voices ) an octave higher.

Usually both voices started on the same note. The principal voice sang until the two voices were quarters apart, then both voices ran in parallel until both ended on the starting note again.

In contrast to the quint organum , the quart distance was not strictly observed in the quart organum. Rather, thirds and seconds were also used to avoid the tritone .

Web links

• The polyphony in the music of the West by Heinz Schwarzer in Werkstatt-Kreativ by Dieter Trüstedt .