Broadly speaking, plainsong is the name given to the body of traditional songs used in the liturgies of the Catholic Church. The liturgies of the Orthodox Church, though in many ways similar, are generally not classified as plainsong, though the musical form is nearly as old as Christendom itself.

Plainsong is monophonic, and is in free rather than measured rhythm.

Gregorian Chant is a variety of plainsong that was standardized by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century CE.

External link

• OCM plainsong

• Plainsong is also the name of a novel by Kent Haruf .
• Plainsong is also the name of a musical group that was fronted by Ian Matthews.
• Plainsong was also the former name for EMU music, a Christian music publishing company in Australia.