The Influence of the use of mensural notation on the performance of polyphony nowadays

Korneel Van Neste

About this exposition

The use of modern scores has changed the original relationship between reading and listening in singing polyphony. The thesis of this paper is that re-adopting the practice of reading from mensural notation as printed in part-books/choirbooks influences the experience and the outcome of the performance for both the singers and the audience. Interviews reveal that there is a different way of looking at polyphony when using mensural notation, as you are forced to listen to the others to stay together (whereas in modern scores, one could also look). Reading from choirbooks has the effect of creating a greater togetherness and synergy in between the singers. The absence of barlines in the scores creates a reliance on and a better feeling for what is called ‘tactus’. A significant practical disadvantage is that due to the lack of experience in reading mensural notation in a majority of singers, it takes more time and practice/rehearsals to get to a concert-worthy level, which in a ‘time-is-money’ world is not so desirable. Modern-day sources addressing the advantages and disadvantages of using mensural notation in polyphony performances nowadays are almost entirely lacking. However, a few sources regarding unique aspects of mensural notation tend to confirm that by reading from the original notation, one looks at the music in a different way, needing more knowledge and feeling for the music on a structural level in order to be able to perform it.

type	research exposition
keywords	Art of Interpretation
date	17/12/2018
published	11/07/2022
last modified	11/07/2022
status	limited publication
copyright	-
license	All rights reserved
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/548089/729473
published in	KC Research Portal
portal issue	3. Internal publication

name	Ave Maria - Cornysh
copyright	PPoS
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Choirbook setting front view
copyright	Christina Kwon
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Choibook right view
copyright	Christina Kwon
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Choirbook left view
copyright	Christina Kwon
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Bibliography
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Poster-research-concert
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	ToC Thesis-1
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Verte cito ms. 215-16 (016_6v)
copyright	Royal Library of Belgium (Brussels)/Alamire Digital Lab (Leuven)
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture, picture, picture, picture

name	Full Interview with Anonymous
copyright	-
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	Full Interview Tim
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	Interview Andrew Part 1
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	interview Andrew part 2
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	Full André Cruz interview
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	Full interview Maté Bruckner
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	Full Interview Judith
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	Ave regina
copyright	Tim Braithwaite
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	O magnum Mysterium
copyright	Tim Braithwaite
license	All rights reserved
usages	video, video, video, video

name	Ave Maria - W.Cornysh
copyright	-
license	All rights reserved
usages	video, video

name	Research concert
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio, audio

name	Memorare Mater Clip
copyright	Korneel Van Neste
license	All rights reserved
usages	video, video

name	Petite Camusette p1 (Mellon)
copyright	Public Domain
license	Public domain
usages	pdf, pdf

name	Ave Maria (Eton)
copyright	Public Domain
license	Public domain
usages	pdf, pdf

name	no barlines
copyright	Public domain
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture, picture

name	in between lines
copyright	Public domain
license	Public domain
usages	picture, picture

name	Tactus
copyright	Clemens Goldberg
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture, picture

name	Rests Ms. 215-16 (077_37r)
copyright	Royal Library of Belgium (Brussels)/Alamire Digital Lab (Leuven)
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture, picture

name	Screen Shot 2020-02-23 at 17.35.44
copyright	Clemens Goldberg
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture, picture

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The Influence of the use of mensural notation on the performance of polyphony nowadays (2022)

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