Medieval Music History

Medieval Music History

Music has been around since the beginning of man, but we do not know what it sounded

like until the Medieval Period.

It was in this period that people developed a system to write notes down. It started with the most powerful organization in the world

at that time.

The Medieval Period, or Middle Ages, started around 500 AD and lasted 950 years ending

in the year _______.1450

Early written music had words and sometimes even scribbles to tell the singer to go up and down, but

there was no form of specific music notation. This is an early chant written by monks about 100 AD.

Over time, the monks began to develop a form of music notation that showed how high or low to sing a note by using a staff.

The first written record of music notation dates back to the 6th Century. It’s

called Gregorian Chant and it was named after the

leader of the Catholic church.

Mr. Lauritzen secretly snapped this picture when he was in the Vatican

museum in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great organized all the chants of all the Catholic churches around the world into a collection, so they named the chants after him.

Here is an example of the first notation used by the monks. It’s very similar to the notation we still use

today. What are some differences?

Square notes and only 4 lines on the staff

Gregorian Chant, like most chants, is sung without instruments. It only uses

voices. We call this “a cappella”.

The Trinity of the Father, Son, and

Holy Spirit was the most important number of the

Church, so all of the music was grouped into 3’s to represent this sacred trinity.

You are listening to it right now. Why do you think people would buy this?

This CD, simply called “CHANT,” came out in 1994 and sold millions

of copies.

It’s peaceful, spiritual, & relaxing after a stressful day.

Gregorian Chant has remained an important part of the Catholic Church even to the present.

People still turn to Gregorian Chant for spiritual and intellectual uplifting or to evoke a solemn, sacred atmosphere.

Chant started as a single, vocal melody with no steady beat. For hundreds of years, all the

monks sang the same notes at the same times.

Around the 9th Century, some singers began singing in a harmony of 5th’s, thus

creating homophonic harmony.

About the 12th Century, the monks started to sing 2 or more melodies at the same time.

What do we call this?

Chant is not only used by the Roman Catholic church. It is frequently used in many parts of the world today. Here are a few examples:

Middle East – Muslim Call to Prayer

New Zealand – Maori War Chant

U.S. – Native American War Chant

Tibet – Monks Chanting the Tantra

India – Buddist Prayer to Chenrizi (wait for music to play before clicking)

Here are some instruments from the Medieval Period

11. 12.

Bagpipe

Harp

13. 14.

DrumTimbrel

15.

16.

Cymbals Flute

17.18.

Viol

Shawm

19.20.

Shofar

Recorder

Here are some more

instruments used in the Medieval

Period

Listening:

Composer: Gregorian ChantSong Title: Hosanna Filio David