Accentus
The recitative, largely monotone chanting style for liturgical texts in Gregorian chant, opposed to concentus.
What it means
In Gregorian chant, accentus denotes the recitative, largely monotone style of delivering liturgical texts, as customary for collects, the epistle, the gospel, and lessons. The chant moves mostly on one or a few pitches and closely follows the natural inflection of the spoken text.
Its counterpart is concentus, which covers the more elaborately shaped, melodically richer chant forms of the liturgy, such as antiphons, responsories, and hymns.
Musical use
The distinction between accentus and concentus organizes the many chant forms of the Catholic liturgy according to their musical complexity. Accentus chants serve mainly to convey sacred texts clearly and intelligibly and are usually assigned to the priest, deacon, or lector, while concentus is reserved for the choir or schola.
This twofold division shaped liturgical practice for centuries and appears as a basic organizing principle in numerous medieval and early modern descriptions of Gregorian chant. The monotone, recitative sound world of accentus forms the sonic backdrop against which the richer chants of concentus stand out.