Gregorijanski napjevi Velikog tjedna
Gregorian Chants during the Holy Week

Summary/Abstract: Liturgical music, which was created in the Church to follow holy service in the Roman Catholic liturgy, is known as Gregorian chant. This way of singing still today represents official way of singing in the Roman Catholic Church. Importance of the Gregorian chant, bearing in mind liturgy as a priceless heritage, can be seen in its best light during the Holy Week. Therefore, in the Roman Catholic Chruch Gregorian chant is not a musical abstract, but “spiritual sensation” that has its roots in the words of liturgy. Thus, one has to relate these chants with the text, and only then one can sense the whole meaning of the liturgical words that cannot be sensed in the only spoken text. By the same token, Gregorian chant expresses prayer, or one can say that it even creates one, because this chant was founded, examined and revived by the Holy Spirit. Consequently, spiritual value of the Gregorian chants greatly depends on the religious experiences of composer, musician and listener. So it seems that in this chants artistic sensation depends not only on the composers talent but primarily on the own spiritual value, i.e. own faith. Beside this, paleographical signs (neume), in which this music was written, have to be constantly investigated regarding their function in liturgy, i.e. relation between music and the liturgical text. Therefore, form and degree of the musical notation is in tight correlation with the liturgical text, and this relation has to be investigated in order to reveal influence of religious expression that was implied. Gregorian chant is affluent not only because of various rhythmical and verbal hues (its fluency and lyrical versatility with which dignifiedly expresses faith), but also because of the value of its music and composition that is also deeply connected with spirituality. Therefore, results of such thorough contextual analysis of the Gregorian chants can reveal true nature of artistic expression within sung prayer.

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