A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Modulations, Regular and Conceded
MODULATIONS, REGULAR AND CONCEDED. (Lat. Modulations [vel Clausulæ] regulares et concessæ). The Composer of a Plain Chaunt Melody is not permitted to begin or end, even his intermediate phrases, upon any note he pleases. The last phrase of every Melody must, of necessity, end with the Final of the Mode in which it is written. The first phrase must begin with one or other of a certain set of notes called the Absolute Initials of the Mode. The intermediate phrases can only begin, or end, on one of another set of notes, called its Modulations. Of these Modulations, four the Final, Dominant, Mediant, and Participant—are of more importance than the rest, and are therefore called Regular. But, as the constant reiteration of these four notes would prove intolerably monotonous, in a Melody consisting of very numerous phrases, other notes, called Conceded Modulations, are added to them; and, upon any one of these, any phrase, except the first, or last, may either begin, or end.
A complete Table of the Regular and Conceded Modulations of all the Modes will be found in the Article, Modes, the Ecclesiastical