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A sequence ( Latin '''''sequentia''''') is a Gregorian Chant used in the medieval Mass , following the Alleluia . The form of this chant inspired a genre of Latin Poetry written in a non- Classical Metre , often on a sacred Christian subject, which is also called a sequence. THE LATIN SEQUENCE IN LITERATURE AND LITURGY The Latin sequence has its beginnings, as an artistic form, in early Christian Hymn s such as the '' Vexilla Regis '' of Venantius Fortunatus . Venantius modified the classical metres based on syllable quantity to an accentual metre more easily suitable to be chanted to music in Christian worship. In the Ninth Century , Hrabanus Maurus also moved away from classical metres to produce Christian hymns such as '' Veni Creator Spiritus ''. The name ''sequentia'', on the other hand, came to be bestowed upon these hymns as a result of the works of Notker Balbulus , who during the tenth century popularized the genre by publishing a collection of ''sequentiae'' in his ''Liber hymnorum''. Since early sequences were written in rhythmical prose, they were also called Prose s (Latin: ''prosae''). Notker's texts were meant to be sung. In the Latin . The name ''sequence'' thus came to be applied to these texts; and by extension, to hymns containing Rhyme and accentual metre. A collection of sequences was called the ''Sequentiale''. One well-known sequence, falsely attributed to Notker during the Middle Ages, is the prose text ''Media vita in morte sumus'' ("In the midst of life we are in death"), which was translated by Cranmer and became a part of the Burial Service in the Funeral rites of the Anglican '' Book Of Common Prayer ''. Other well-known sequences include Tommaso Da Celano 's '' Dies Irae '', St. Thomas Aquinas ' '' Pange Lingua '' in praise of the Eucharist , the anonymous medieval hymn '' Ave Maris Stella '' ("Hail, star of the sea!"), and the Marian sequence '' Stabat Mater '' by Jacopone Da Todi . During the Middle Ages, secular or semi-secular sequences, such as Peter Of Blois ' ''Olim sudor Herculis'' ("The labours of Hercules") were written; the Goliard s, a group of Latin poets who wrote mostly Satirical verse, used the form extensively. The '' Carmina Burana '' is a collection of these sequences. At the '' for Easter , '' Veni, Sancte Spiritus '' for Pentecost , '' Lauda Sion '' for Corpus Christi , and '' Dies Irae '' for the Requiem Mass were maintained. In 1727, '' Stabat Mater '' for Our Lady Of Sorrows was added to this list. THE SEQUENCE AS A MUSICAL GENRE Sequences are distinguished by a structure dominated by Couplet s. Musically, sequences fall into early, middle, and late periods. In the early period, sequences such as Notker's often included single lines that were not part of a couplet. These single lines most often appeared at the beginning or end of the sequence, but could also appear in the middle. Sequences from the middle period, starting around the 11th century, such as the sequence for the Mass of Easter Day, '' Victimae Paschali Laudes '', are less likely to have single lines outside of couplets, and their couplets are more likely to rhyme. By the 12th century, later sequences, such as the sequence for Pentecost , '' Veni Sancte Spiritus '', showed increasing regularity of structure, with rhyming couplets throughout. Medieval sequences are usually Modal melodies. While primarily syllabic, sequences can contain Melisma s. The two verses of each couplet are sung to the same musical line, usually ending on a tonally stabilizing pitch, with variety being created by couplets of different lengths and with different musical arches. Although sequences are vocal and Monophonic , certain sequence texts suggest possible vocal harmonization in Organum or instrumental accompaniment. The composition of sequences became less frequent when Humanist Latin replaced Medieval Latin as the preferred Literary Style in Latin. New sequences continued to be written in Latin; one of the best known later sequences is the Christmas Carol '' Adeste Fideles '', known in English as "O Come, All Ye Faithful". EXTERNAL LINKS
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