Final answer:
The prevalence of notated versus oral psalm singing varied by context and time. Notated traditions were important during the Medieval period, but oral traditions, such as lining out in hymn singing, were dominant where literacy was low and in poorer communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The more prevalent method of psalm singing between the notated and oral traditions varied based on the context and time period. During certain periods, such as in Medieval Europe, notated traditions began to lay the foundations for Western music theory and notation systems.
However, oral tradition was more dominant in situations where literacy was low, and resources such as hymnbooks were scarce or inaccessible.
The practice of lining out, for example, was prevalent in American folk music, particularly in African-American and Puritan communities.
This method involved a leader singing a line of the psalm or hymn, which the congregation would then repeat, and it was especially common in Black Primitive Baptist congregations into the late twentieth century.
In conclusion, while notated music played a significant role in religious instruction and the theoretical development of Western music, oral tradition remained more widespread due to its accessibility and adaptability in communities with lower literacy levels or fewer resources.