Trio Les jouets du vent

Gregorian chant is the central Western tradition of plainchant: a monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song in Latin (and occasionally Greek) used in the Roman Catholic liturgy. It employs free rhythm guided by the prosody of the text rather than by strict meter, and is sung in unison by clerics or scholas. Its melodies are organized by the system of eight church modes, with characteristic finalis (final), tenor/reciting tones, and melodic formulas. Repertoires include the Proper and Ordinary of the Mass (e.g., Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) and the Divine Office (e.g., Antiphons, Responsories, Hymns, Psalms). Although legend credits Pope Gregory I, modern scholarship sees Gregorian chant as a Carolingian synthesis of Old Roman and Gallican chants, standardized across Frankish realms and later the broader Latin West.

Religious music is music composed or performed for religious use, or created under clear religious influence. It often overlaps with ritual music—works sung or played during rites, ceremonies, and communal worship—and ranges from simple congregational chants to elaborate liturgical masses and devotional song traditions. Across cultures, religious songs have long served as a source of strength and consolation: easing pain, improving mood, fostering communal identity, and helping worshippers find meaning in suffering or joy. While styles vary widely between faiths and regions, many traditions share techniques such as call-and-response, intoned recitation, communal refrains, and the careful matching of text and musical accent to sacred language.