24/12/2024
Credit to the original poster,
I really like how the Greek names are given, and then the translations of the mood for each mode. Very cool!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GkNiVLayC/
What are modes?
In modern Western music, there is a notion of "keys," which are sets of scales based on absolute pitches. For example, A440 is a specific pitch, a mathematically determined frequency, that is the basis for "A" in modern instruments. A mode, on the other hand, is more like a scale. It isn't based so much on an absolute pitch as the relationship between the notes. All major and minor scales follow the same interval sequence, and only change based on the first note of the scale. So C major and D major both have the sequence: T-T-s-T-T-T-s where T stands for "tone" or whole note and s stands for "semi-tone". A whole note is comprised of two semi-tones.
To a degree, these ancient modes overlap with the modern scales. Each mode represents a certain mood. When Gregorian chant was being written, these modes would be used to express the various moods of the psalms that were being sung. Because the modes aren't fixed, it was easy to transpose the chant based on where the cantor started singing, without having to rewrite the chant notation.
The 8 modes are:
Dorian
Hypodorian
Phrygian
Hypophrygian
Lydian
Hypolidian
Mixolydian
Hypomixolydian
