Beneventan Chant

Beneventan chant and liturgy flourished from the middle of the 7th century, when the Arian Lombards became Catholic, to the end of the 8th century, when very early forms of Gregorian chant were introduced into Benevento. From that time on, Beneventan Mass chants seem to have been used as alternative forms on major feast days. By the 11th century Beneventan chant had fallen into disuse.

OVERVIEW

Beneventan chant is a liturgical plainchant that was one of many in the chant traditions of the early western church. It was used primarily in the region of southern Italy, around the ecclesiastical centers of Benevento and Montecassino.  Related to Ambrosian chant, it was officially replaced by Gregorian chant in 11th century. Benevento was the capital of the Lombard duchy that once ruled southern Italy, and Beneventan chant and liturgy flourished from the middle of the 7th century, when the Arian Lombards became Catholic, to the end of the 8th century, when very early forms of Gregorian chant were introduced into Benevento.

Benevento reached its peak after 758, when Charlemagne conquered the northern kingdom at Pavia. After that the independent Beneventan dukes wore the royal crown. Arichis II established a national patronal feast in 760 by collecting the relics of the Holy Twelve Brothers at the ducal chapel of Santa Sofia. The chants for this feast (September 1), which must have been composed at this time, form one of the unique Masses in Beneventan chant. The only other distinctive Beneventan masses are those for St. Andrew and a second feast of the Holy Cross. From that time on, aside from feast days, Benevantan chants more and more were replaced with Gregorian.

There is no trace of the modal system later developed by the Franks after Byzantine models. Much like Ambrosian chant, the melodies are melismatic and ornate. The frequent and repeated use of various short melodic motifs most differentiates Beneventan chant from others. Apart from the ingressa (the same term as Milanese chant uses for the introit), the proper parts of the mass are known by Gregorian terms, but this may be due to their presence in Gregorian sources. The chant assignments were very flexible, for a chant might be used as the communion in one mass and the offertory in another.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

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1. Early Western Liturgics

2. Beneventan chant

3. Early Western Chant

4. Gregorian Reforms

5. Carolingian Reforms

6. Gregorian Chant

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