Variant eighth-psalm tone intonation in the Carthusian liturgical tradition

Abstract

Two Carthusian antiphoners from the 13th century contain a special intonation for the 8th psalm tone, with the notes Fa, La and Do (the Fa-intonation) instead of the more generally known intonation with the notes Sol, La and Do (the Sol-intonation). This paper discusses the following questions: 1. Can this special intonation of the 8th mode only be found in these two antiphoners, or also in other Carthusian music manuscripts? 2. Was the use of this intonation in the Carthusian music manuscripts connected with any other liturgical tradition? 3. In which period was the Fa-intonation most widely spread?