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• Virga and puncta, each representing a single pitch Liquescence
Liquescent neumes involve an ornamental neume
• Pes, which indicates a pitch followed by a note above that has implications as to how the word should sound.
The performance of this neume generally involves a
• Clivis or flexa, which represents a pitch followed by a consonant or vowel receiving rhythmic duration. As
lower pitch the name of the neume implies, the syllable should
become “liquid” and flow seamlessly from one pitch
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• Climacus, a series of descending pitches to the next. This type of neume, characterized by a
rounded off, lighter stroke, often occurs on a voiced
• Scandicus, a series of ascending pitches consonant, such as in the letters m, n, or l. Liquescence
is not limited to voiced consonants and may also ap-
• Torculus or pes flexus, a series of three pitches that pear on diphthong syllables, double consonants, or
ascend and then descend consonants that may be reflective of the pronunciation
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of the time. In regard to diphthongs or liquescence
• Porrectus or flexa resupina, a three-note neume com- occurring on a vowel, the execution of the word might
plex that descends and then ascends involve a darkening of the vowel, a sliding transition
between pitches, or a sliding transition and rearticula-
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Ornamental neumes usually involve some type of tion of the next pitch. On syllables that might appear
graphic signifier indicating the incorporation of a spe- ambiguous as to how to perform the liquescence, the
cial or ornamented type of performing execution and symbol might imply the insertion of a shadow vowel. 36
generally fall into the categories of either liquescent or
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repercussive. Liquescent neumes involve the modifi- Oriscus and Pressus
cation of a pitch to reflect the sound of a word by indi- The oriscus is a small note, similar to a punctum or
cating when to sing through a voiced consonant or give apostropha, that has a wavy component. The oriscus
emphasis to a vowel. The repercussive neumes include usually does not stand alone but is part of a compound
the apostropha, bistropha, and tristropha, and indicate neume construction. The information surrounding this
a pulse or rearticulation of the pitch with a descending neume, its significance, and style of performance, is
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and decaying slide. There are additionally specific generally conjecture based on the shape of the neume.
neumes that have their own independent ornamental This neume could imply a “tension” toward the next
significance, including the quilisma, oriscus, and pres- note that could be executed through a microtonal in-
sus. There is conjecture as to how the specific orna- flection of the voice. There may be melodic implica-
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mental neumes are supposed to be performed, and an tions involving alternation between the note and a note
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exact interpretation of these neumes is unknown. less than a half-step above, similar to a mordent —it
may demonstrate rhythmic significance or could possi-
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bly imply liquescence at the unison.

virga punctum pes clivis climacus scandicus torculus porrectus

Figure 4. Images of basic neumes
from Riesencodex, f. 470 r

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