Canonical polyphony

Canonical polyphony was a system for organizing the simultaneous usages of Galic incantation that has existed since at least the 11th century.

Galic incantation

As part of the rites of Ponθōiš Wiḥštō, the priest and anti-priest are required to utter many ritualistic formulae in Galic Northian, an ancient language that was barely understood even by priests. These formulae were remembered less by their literal meaning but more as a sequence of syllables, which are to be exact to accomplish ritualistic functions. To ensure accurate memorization, priests at some point in the past introduced fixed melodies or melodic contours to accompany common words or sequences of words (but not others).

The issue occurs when the priest and anti-priest must chant different words and yet arrive at the final syllable at the same time, so the bell signifying the end of the verse could be rung in time. To avoid the error of chanting the other priest's words and missing one's own, priests same melody for shared words (unisono) and contrasting melodies for different words (counterpoint). Furthermore, it was desired that the different melodies should be harmonious with each other and not stand at intervals considered harsh and unpleasing to the ear.

It is not known when counterpoint developed in Galic incantations as musical notation was only introduced to the Northern States in the 11th century. Some hold there is evidence some degree of contrasting melody may have existed as early as the Epic Age (7th - 3rd c. BCE), but this is not a common position.

Inventory

Cadences

A cadence closes a musical phrase by following a fixed sequence of notes, invariably ending with a consonance in the context of Galic incantations. The word comes from the Latin cadere "to fall", since most cadences require the at least one voice to descend to the lowest note of the scale in which the melody is sung. Where the final word of the verse is shared, the cadence will be sung unisono, that is with all the same notes between voices. The perfect cadence starts on the fourth degree, advances to the fifth, and then falls down to the first: 4-5-1.