The Importance of Memorization and Oral Transmission in Sacred Music

Memorization and oral transmission play a significant role in the history and practice of sacred music. Despite the development of notational systems, musicians continued to memorize pieces even when notation allowed for exact notations. The interaction between memory and notation remained crucial, with memorization and written/oral transmission coexisting until at least 1600. The ability to memorize chants often resulted in better performances compared to reading from the page, highlighting the importance of oral tradition in musical interpretation.