Monotone chanted Our Father

[Digitonomy]

I attended mass recently at a church where there was a lot of Gregorian chant. However, I was puzzled by the manner the Our Father was prayed. It was not spoken in a normal voice, but instead chanted. Unlike most chants, there was no tonal variation from one word or syllable to the next. The entire prayer was on the same note. It sounded like the robots you used to see in science fiction films.

Is this a longstanding chant tradition that I’m simply ignorant of, or is it just a fluke at this particular parish?

 

[Spirithound]

Woah! I just tried it, and even trying to chant on one note, it goes along with our natural English intonation that we almost have to change note every now and then…

 

[LilyM]

I have a chanted version of the Rosary that comes close - uses three notes or so Very relaxing

But I think one note would be dreadful.

 

[chevalier]

I think Pater Noster in Latin could go on one note.

 

[m134e5]

I think Pater Noster in Latin could go on one note.

It would sound good if the person doing it knew how to sing, but this is the sort of thing that has the potential to sound very, very, very bad.

 

[baltobetsy]

I sing in an Episcopal church choir. When we do Evensong, we chant the Apostles’ Creed and the Our Father this way. It sounds fine.

Betsy

 

[chevalier]

It would sound good if the person doing it knew how to sing, but this is the sort of thing that has the potential to sound very, very, very bad.

For Pater Noster, I think I prefer the unfaltering, unwavering monotonous and emotionless Latin.