Polish hymnody

1. Latin Hymns of the Catholic Church Poland has always served as fertile ground for the cultivation of the Latin hymn. The monophonic Latin hymn repertory was introduced in Poland in the 10th century, and was gradually transformed by the introduction of folk idioms and the addition of new compositions. Early Polish manuscripts show that the Romano-Frankish chant was often seasoned with melodic leaps and pentatonic leanings, suggesting that folk music influences blended in with the imported chant style. In addition, 13th-century Polish clergy and musicians enriched the chant repertory with numerous original compositions. Among the oldest surviving hymns are ‘Gaude mater polonia,’ a hymn in...