I.

Introduction

Musical Settings of Mass. The liturgical texts for the Mass have been given musical settings from earliest times (see Chant). Some elements of the Mass have texts that vary from day to day (Proper of the Mass); others use the same texts year round (Ordinary of the Mass). Some parts are recited on a single tone or spoken, and others are traditionally sung to a distinct melody. Pope Gregory I collected many of the monophonic (unaccompanied, unharmonized) chants used in the liturgy during his reign (590-604).