Exposition

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

Korneel Van Neste
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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.
typeresearch exposition
keywordsArt of Interpretation
date17/12/2018
published11/07/2022
last modified11/07/2022
statuslimited publication
share statusprivate
copyright-
licenseAll rights reserved
urlhttps://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/548089/729473
published inKC Research Portal
portal issue3. Internal publication


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630198 Ave Maria - Cornysh PPoS All rights reserved
729860 Full Interview with Anonymous - All rights reserved
729873 Full Interview Tim Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
729878 Ave regina Tim Braithwaite All rights reserved
729892 O magnum Mysterium Tim Braithwaite All rights reserved
729965 Ave Maria - W.Cornysh - All rights reserved
805884 Interview Andrew Part 1 Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
805886 interview Andrew part 2 Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
805889 Full André Cruz interview Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
805893 Full interview Maté Bruckner Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
805896 Full Interview Judith Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
805982 Research concert Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
806365 Memorare Mater Clip Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
806405 Petite Camusette p1 (Mellon) Public domain All rights reserved
806412 Petite Camusette p1 (Mellon) Public Domain Public domain
806427 Ave Maria (Eton) Public Domain Public domain
806582 no barlines Public domain All rights reserved
806584 in between lines Public domain Public domain
806587 Tactus Clemens Goldberg All rights reserved
806623 memorare p1 Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België - Bibliothèque royale de Belgique (Brussels)/ Alamire Digital Lab (Leuven) All rights reserved
806748 Choirbook setting front view Christina Kwon All rights reserved
806755 Choibook right view Christina Kwon All rights reserved
806764 Choirbook left view Christina Kwon All rights reserved
806866 Bibliography Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
806873 Bibliography Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
806883 Front page exposition Royal Library of Belgium (Brussels)/Alamire Digital Lab (Leuven) All rights reserved
806897 Verte cito ms. 215-16 (016_6v) Royal Library of Belgium (Brussels)/Alamire Digital Lab (Leuven) All rights reserved
806950 Rests Ms. 215-16 (077_37r) Royal Library of Belgium (Brussels)/Alamire Digital Lab (Leuven) All rights reserved
806954 ToC Thesis-1 Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
807915 Poster-research-concert-1 Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved
807938 Screen Shot 2020-02-23 at 17.35.44 Clemens Goldberg All rights reserved
808132 Poster-research-concert Korneel Van Neste All rights reserved

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