Medieval/Middle AgesMedieval/Middle Ages

Dark Ages c.500-1000Late Middle Ages c.1000-1450

Dark Ages c.500-1000Late Middle Ages c.1000-1450

Music of Greek and Rome provided foundation for music of later ages Music of Greek and Rome provided foundation for music of later ages

• very few documented works exist. • Most documents of music were destroyed during the fall of the Roman Empire (c.476)

• very few documented works exist. • Most documents of music were destroyed during the fall of the Roman Empire (c.476)

Ascent and Development

Secular music learned by oral transmission

Sacred music preserved earliest examples of notated music

Ascent and Development

Secular music learned by oral transmission

Sacred music preserved earliest examples of notated music

Dark Ages (c.500-1000)Dark Ages (c.500-1000)

Late Middle Ages(c. 1000-1450)

Late Middle Ages(c. 1000-1450)

developed cathedrals & universities

many great literary works shaped language:

Chanson do Roland (1100) Divine Comedy (1307) Canterbury Tales (1386)

Crusades (c. 200 years)

males dominated: idealized the figure of the fearless warrior

status of women was raised by universal cult of Mary (mother of Christ)

promoted concepts of chivalry and adornment by knights.

women and love become popular topics in poetry and song

developed cathedrals & universities

many great literary works shaped language:

Chanson do Roland (1100) Divine Comedy (1307) Canterbury Tales (1386)

Crusades (c. 200 years)

males dominated: idealized the figure of the fearless warrior

status of women was raised by universal cult of Mary (mother of Christ)

promoted concepts of chivalry and adornment by knights.

women and love become popular topics in poetry and song

Church & State2 centers of power

Church & State2 centers of power

STATE: newly developed governments led by a king

CHARLEMANGNE (742-814) emperor of the Franks

developed modern government

encouraged education

STATE: newly developed governments led by a king

CHARLEMANGNE (742-814) emperor of the Franks

developed modern government

encouraged education

Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church

PATRONAGE: church is largest patron of music

men/women preserved & performed music

monastaries develop

code of conduct

monophonic PLAINCHANT or “Gregorian chant” dominates

PATRONAGE: church is largest patron of music

men/women preserved & performed music

monastaries develop

code of conduct

monophonic PLAINCHANT or “Gregorian chant” dominates

Gregorian Chant Gregorian Chant

Named after Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)

Single line (monophonic)

Latin text

Functional music for LITURGY (church services)

Uses MODES for melodies (special scales)

Notated by NEUMES (asc./dec. symbols)

Named after Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)

Single line (monophonic)

Latin text

Functional music for LITURGY (church services)

Uses MODES for melodies (special scales)

Notated by NEUMES (asc./dec. symbols)

3 types of Chant

syllabic: 1 note per syllable

neumatic: small groups of notes (2-6) per syllable

melismatic: long groups of notes for each syllable

3 types of Chant

syllabic: 1 note per syllable

neumatic: small groups of notes (2-6) per syllable

melismatic: long groups of notes for each syllable

Chant dominated until REFORM movement of Council of Trent (1545-1563)

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

•nun, playwright, poet, musician, naturalist, pharmacologist, visionary

•wrote 77 chants

•many songs praise Virgin Mary

•composed Alleluia: o virga mediatrix

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

•nun, playwright, poet, musician, naturalist, pharmacologist, visionary

•wrote 77 chants

•many songs praise Virgin Mary

•composed Alleluia: o virga mediatrix

Daily Offices: series of services throughout the day Mass

most solemn ritual of churchReenactment of the sacrifice of ChristLatin texts

Proper: texts that varied from day to day Ordinary: texts remained the same

Cloister - men and women served the church which was a heavy daily work schedule

Daily Offices: series of services throughout the day Mass

most solemn ritual of churchReenactment of the sacrifice of ChristLatin texts

Proper: texts that varied from day to day Ordinary: texts remained the same

Cloister - men and women served the church which was a heavy daily work schedule

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICESROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICES

Rise of PolyphonyRise of PolyphonyOrganum - earliest form of polyphonydeveloped by Notre Dame Cathedral

composers added interval of 4th or 5th to

existing chant (new ideas founded on old)

Fixed melody (called tenor) upper part freely composed above

Rhythmic modes (patterns)

Motet - added new text to highly melismatic organum

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Secular musicSecular musicMostly instrumental dance music

Triple meter, binary forms

embellishments are added upon repeats

Vocal music

Minstrels: versatile traveling entertainers, lower class

Troubadours and Trouvères: French poet-musicians, court musicians and members of aristocracy, songs about chivalry, unrequited love, political and war songs

Minnesingers: German counterpart to Troubadours

Mostly instrumental dance music

Triple meter, binary forms

embellishments are added upon repeats

Vocal music

Minstrels: versatile traveling entertainers, lower class

Troubadours and Trouvères: French poet-musicians, court musicians and members of aristocracy, songs about chivalry, unrequited love, political and war songs

Minnesingers: German counterpart to Troubadours