In music, kant is ... The musical term "kant"

In music, kant is a kind of household polyphonic song. It has become widespread in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. What is the reason for the appearance of edges? Where does this professional genre take its roots? What are the characteristics of it? These and a number of other questions are of interest not only to a narrow circle of specialists, but also to curious personalities who like musical art.

Choral music

Before considering the question "what is kant in music?", One should consider choral performance in general. Choral music can be of several types: folk, cult, secular, professional. In musical folklore, choral singing exists as a folk song. Compositions can be both closed structures (artistically finished), and open.

Choir music is distinguished by certain features. First, the type of polyphony: homophony, heterophony or polyphony. Secondly, according to the performers: without accompaniment (a'capella), with solo singing or with accompaniment (instrumental music).

Choral compositions can be a part of larger works, and a completely independent composition. A wide variety of different types of choral treatments, which are used to date. This arrangement, transcription, as well as harmonization.

Great importance for the development of the choral culture was the art of Ancient Greece, Byzantium, India and Egypt. The disintegration of Christianity into Orthodoxy and Catholicism affected the cult and secular evolution. In the Middle Ages a type of early polyphony emerges, called the organ. Various monasteries and cathedrals of major European cities become centers for church choral music. At university, student songs and secular motets are increasingly heard.

Choral singing (polyphony) is blossoming in the Renaissance. The principles of the integrity of the musical composition are affirmed, various secular forms are spreading everywhere, new genres (motet, madrigal, mass, magnetica, chanson) appear. Creativity of the masters of the Dutch school played a significant role in the evolution of choral music. Among the most important representatives should be noted Dufai, Despres, Izaka, Obrehta, Okegema.

The main techniques and aesthetic principles of the masters of the Netherlands school were manifested in the works of Lasso, Gabrieli, Palestrina, Monteverdi and others. The key moment was the appearance of the opera. This served as the final separation of choral music from the church. Under the influence of this synthetic genre, cantatas and oratorios were formed.

What is kant in music?

As mentioned above, this is a kind of household polyphonic song. Since the middle of the 17th century, syllabic poetry has been developing rapidly throughout Russia. In connection with this, Kant appears as a professional genre. Initially they were written mainly on religious texts and were called psalms.

Early edgings contain a complex intonational system, in which Russian and Ukrainian folk songs, Polish melodies and the banners of the znamen are closely intertwined. They come in a variety of thematic content and are often referred to as songs.

Over time, their intonational system was greatly enriched. Organically weave elements of popular folk songs and dance forms. Some varieties of edgings are firmly included in the oral folk tradition.

The origins of the edges

Not everyone knows the meaning of the word "edging". In translation from Latin - "singing". Their origins start with the musical culture of Poland. From the middle of the XVI century they were called "kantyshek." They became widespread in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in the 16th-17th centuries. Their subjects were quite diverse. Spiritual edgings became very popular among the clergy in the second half of the 17th century. These are "penitential" or "edifying" chants. They were performed in a calm and unhurried pace. They had a measured rhythm and a choral warehouse.

Partesong singing

Developed in parallel with the edges. Such chants were intended for four, six, eight, twelve or more voices. Their number reached twenty-four and forty-eight. The most developed form of polyphonic singing was spiritual concerts. They sounded during a festive divine service. Thanks to the concerts there was a new notation, which exists to this day. It is a five-typed musical staff. And if before the emergence of the partes style there were hooks, then during this period there is a need to accurately record a harmonic polyphony. From now on, each note indicates a certain height and duration.

Partes works were created by many composers. However, the most famous are Nikolai Diletsky, Vasily Titov, Nikolai Kalashnikov, Dmitry Berezovsky and Dmitry Bortniansky.

From the Psalm to the Edge

Psalms, in contrast to church psalms, were intended for home music making. They did not perform the functions of prayers, their order was not strictly regulated. Therefore, they quickly came into use and became popular in the XVII century in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Samples of this genre can be found in the collection of "Mesyatseslov" by Simeon of Polotsk. Music to the texts was written by Vasily Titov.

Psalm is an extremely important step from church music to secular music. In particular, to the genre of lyric cant. Sometimes the meanings of these words are identical.

Characteristic features: a three-part movement, the presentation of the two upper voices by parallel thirds, the supporting bass, the harmonic skeleton. All this will become the main features of the cant in the XVIII century.

The form of psalms is two-part, repels from the semantic load of the poetic text. The nature of music can be varied - from entreaty and complaint to praise and meditation.

Kants in the era of Peter I

During this period of time a special place is occupied by edgings on patriotic themes. They are rightfully considered a popular mass genre, they sound at official celebrations, they are dedicated to military victories and important events of the state life. Under Peter I the triumphal gates were erected. This happened on the Moscow and later St. Petersburg streets on the occasion of the battles won. The winners were greeted in the gates by choir singers and solemn fanfares of military bands.

Panegyric and vivant margins

Hymns were created specially and were performed in honor of the king and his generals. At this time, there appeared such a name for edges, as "panegyric" and "vivatny". In translation from the Greek panhgurikoz is a laudatory song, excessive praise. In Latin, vivat means "long live". The singing of these edges was combined with the reading of "praiseworthy words," alternating with the ringing of bells or the firing of cannons, and was also accompanied by the play of brass instruments. In music, edging is one of the important chants, which was often encountered in home life. They sounded after welcoming and solemn speeches, as toast. Panegyric edgings were included in the plays of school theaters in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Characteristics of edges

The main feature of the musical component of the edges is a three-parted narrative with parallel movements of the two upper voices. The independent bass functions as a harmonic basis. The melody is full of intonations of the famous chant, as well as Russian, Belarusian, Polish and Ukrainian folk songs. If we consider the Petrine era, then in music, the edging is a chant, in which fanfare intonations, reminiscent of military signals, were often used. Festive and solemn character gave chanting-jubilation in the words "Viva!", As well as a clear rhythm of the march. For a long time the march-choral genre prevailed. Kant in place of contemplative-chanting forms brought a melody in motion, clear and elastic rhythms, syllabic meter.

The heyday of the genre. Authors of texts

The highest blossoming of the edifice is obtained by the middle of the 18th century. At this time, there are lyrical, historical and comic chants. They kept their popularity until the beginning of the XIX century. The best writers of the time were the authors of the texts. Among them: M.V. Lomonosov, A.P. Sumarokov, V.K. Trediakovsky.

The authorship of music was often fixed precisely for the poets. This was due to the fact that the manuscript collections (by tradition) did not specify the names of the composers. The tradition of singing cantos for famous tunes has existed for a long time, almost from the moment of their appearance in music. Kant - this is a text version, preserved in manuscript collections. Most of them wandered from one collection to another, and the tunes of many edgings were available in several versions.

How were the edges performed?

Most often they sounded without a musical accompaniment. That is, they were performed by a'capella. However, everything depended on the theme of this or that work. In some cases, the bass (or the whole texture) was duplicated on different instruments.

Some edifying and repentant examples of edging were performed on the organ. Panegyric - on wind instruments. Pastoral or amorous accompanied by playing the guitar, harpsichord, lute or piano.

The influence of folklore

The humorous edgings are the brightest example of the influence of folklore on this professional genre. A large number of urban folk songs can be found in hand-written collections of 60-70-ies of the XVIII century. These samples are considered the earliest form of fixation of folk song art. On the basis of hand-written collections in the 70's and 80's, printed collections of songs were created. As a result of the interaction of the city folk song and the canton, significant transformations took place in these genres. The song clearly showed stylistic features: the structure of the song, the texture. The richness of rhythm and forms, the variety of subjects acquired kant. The meaning and influence of folklore, as we see, is undeniable.

Russian Orthodox Church singing

The possible perfection is closely connected with the concept of Orthodoxy. Such worship is considered the best and ideal on earth. The voice, as the sound organ of the human soul, is chosen for the glorification of God. Orthodox singing is a collection of church and liturgical songs. Their text is written by enlightened songwriters, they are also sung. The melody has its own characteristics. It reflects the national character, the psychology of the people, living conditions and other aspects. About a thousand years ago, our great-grandfathers accepted Holy Orthodoxy from the Eastern Byzantine Church. His text was translated by all the famous saints Cyril and Methodius. And the melody was eventually translated by Orthodox Russia itself. This translation lasted for several centuries, since it was actually a new melodic language. It reflected the Russian Orthodox singing. Actually, even Orthodoxy itself has grown stronger during this time, it has grown and has finally been formed.

Thus, choral music can be of several types, and it is distinguished by certain features. Choral polyphony existed in the Middle Ages, and in the Renaissance it is blossoming. The main techniques and aesthetic principles were laid by the masters of the Dutch school and their followers.

In the article, the main question posed at the beginning was "What does the edge mean?" Its origins, characteristics and species were revealed. It is very remarkable that the genre flourished in the 18th century, which is considered to be the century of reason and enlightenment.