Musical Characteristics
The Genevan Melodies form a strikingly homogeneous collection. Besides the fact that the melodies were written in a relatively short time span by a small number of composers, they have a number of characteristics in common.
- They are based on the so-called church modes
- The melodic range is generally within one octave
- The note values are restricted to half notes and quarter notes (with exception of the final note)
- Every melody starts with a half-note and ends on a breve (also known as double whole note)
- Regular meter and bar-lines are absent
- There are very few melismas (only Psalm 2, 6, 10, 13, 91, 138)
Read more about this topic: Genevan Psalter
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