Vocal Music HistoryVocal Music History

Singing Through TimeSinging Through Time

The human voice is really the The human voice is really the foundation of all music; and whatever foundation of all music; and whatever

the development of the musical art, the development of the musical art, however bold the composer's however bold the composer's

combinations, however brilliant the combinations, however brilliant the virtuoso's execution, in the end they virtuoso's execution, in the end they

must always return to the standard set must always return to the standard set by vocal music.  by vocal music.  

            ---Richard Wagner---Richard Wagner

Medieval Medieval Period (500-1450)Period (500-1450)

Vocal music most importantVocal music most important

Simple in natureSimple in nature

First written music → First written music → church musicchurch music

LatinLatin Offices → music sung Offices → music sung

at a certain time of dayat a certain time of day Plainchant (or chant or Plainchant (or chant or

plainsong)plainsong) No rhythm or tempo No rhythm or tempo

notednoted ♫ ♫ chant chant Pater NosterPater Noster

Chant – Pater Noster

Word WallWord Wall

Syllabic → one note per syllableSyllabic → one note per syllable Neumatic → two or three notes (or neumes) Neumatic → two or three notes (or neumes)

per syllableper syllable Melismatic → four or more notes per syllableMelismatic → four or more notes per syllable Organum → melody with harmony (4th or Organum → melody with harmony (4th or

5th)5th) Polyphony Polyphony → → two or more vocal parts, equal two or more vocal parts, equal

importanceimportance

Guido d’Arezzo Guido d’Arezzo

MonkMonk Guidonian HandGuidonian Hand device used to assist singers in learning to device used to assist singers in learning to

sight singsight sing each joint or part of the hand represented a each joint or part of the hand represented a

different notedifferent note precursor to solfegeprecursor to solfege ♫ ♫ Guido’s handGuido’s hand

Secular (Pop) SongsSecular (Pop) Songs

usually about love and usually about love and winewine

Unaccompanied, triple Unaccompanied, triple meter, no harmony, not meter, no harmony, not LatinLatin

Troubadors (started Troubadors (started south)south)

Trouveres (started Trouveres (started north)north)

Renaissance Renaissance Period (1450-1600)Period (1450-1600)

Similar to medieval music but more evolvedSimilar to medieval music but more evolved Secular music flourished because of patrons of Secular music flourished because of patrons of

the nobilitythe nobility Entertainment for amateurs rather than concert Entertainment for amateurs rather than concert

music (ambience!)music (ambience!) Composed for few participants rather than Composed for few participants rather than

huge choirs/choruseshuge choirs/choruses

Funny Story:Funny Story:Josquin des Prez composer for the Josquin des Prez composer for the

French king, got tired of waiting for French king, got tired of waiting for the raise he had been rpomised so he the raise he had been rpomised so he

wrote a motet called “ Remember wrote a motet called “ Remember thy word unto thy servant”. When thy word unto thy servant”. When the king finally paid him, he wrote the king finally paid him, he wrote another one called “Lord thou hast another one called “Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant”.dealt graciously with thy servant”.

Musical TypesMusical Types

Mass → music composed for specific parts of Mass → music composed for specific parts of the mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, the mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei)Benedictus, Agnus Dei)

Motet → Motet → piece of music in several parts with piece of music in several parts with words (church)words (church)

Madrigal Madrigal → → piece of music two to eight piece of music two to eight voices, usually unaccompanied (secular)voices, usually unaccompanied (secular)

♫ ♫ Ave MariaAve Maria, T.L. Vittoria, T.L. Vittoria

Ave Maria, T.L. Vittoria

Meanwhile...Meanwhile...

Church music not led by Catholics but by Church music not led by Catholics but by Protestants as well (Thank-you Henry VIII!)Protestants as well (Thank-you Henry VIII!)

Chorale - Chorale - hymn meant to be sung by the hymn meant to be sung by the congregation; monophonic then progressed to congregation; monophonic then progressed to four part harmonyfour part harmony

♫ ♫ Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J.S. BachJ.S. Bach

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J.S. BachJ.S. Bach

Baroque Period (1600-1750)Baroque Period (1600-1750)

Instrumental music became as important as Instrumental music became as important as vocalvocal

Opera, usually based on Greek Opera, usually based on Greek mythology/tragedymythology/tragedy

Vocal chamber music Vocal chamber music → solo recitals, small → solo recitals, small ensemblesensembles

Elaborate, showy music...very decoratedElaborate, showy music...very decorated Monteverdi wrote the first opera: Monteverdi wrote the first opera: Orfeo Orfeo (1607) (1607)

Funny Story:Funny Story:

Theorist Giovanni Artusi Theorist Giovanni Artusi published a paper claiming that published a paper claiming that

the “new composers” were the “new composers” were breaking all the rules and breaking all the rules and

ignoring “centuries of noble ignoring “centuries of noble tradition”...sound familiar?tradition”...sound familiar?

OratorioOratorio Like opera but without movement, sets, and Like opera but without movement, sets, and

costumescostumes

Usually a biblical settingUsually a biblical setting

Frequent word paintingFrequent word painting

♫ ♫ Handel Handel → → MessiahMessiah

MessiahMessiah

HallelujahHallelujah

All We Like SheepAll We Like Sheep

Classical Period (1750-1810)Classical Period (1750-1810)

Melodies much less decorated, concentrating Melodies much less decorated, concentrating on beauty of toneon beauty of tone

More chorus stuff in operasMore chorus stuff in operas

Romantic Period (1810-1910)Romantic Period (1810-1910) Art song really developedArt song really developed

Church music not really the focus anymoreChurch music not really the focus anymore

Choral music becomes more important Choral music becomes more important → → nationalism, folk music, some symphoniesnationalism, folk music, some symphonies

♫ ♫ Beethoven’s Ninth SymphonyBeethoven’s Ninth Symphony

Beethoven’s Ninth SymphonyBeethoven’s Ninth Symphony

Art SongsArt Songs Very poetic Very poetic → u→ usually about some sort of sually about some sort of

pretty thing (rose, stream, etc.)pretty thing (rose, stream, etc.) Piano and voicePiano and voice Text and accompaniment closely relatedText and accompaniment closely related Tried to create a musical sceneTried to create a musical scene Song Cycle Song Cycle → group of poems by one poet set → group of poems by one poet set

to musicto music Lied Lied → (→ (German) “song” (pl. lieder)German) “song” (pl. lieder) Schubert & Schumann Schubert & Schumann ♫ ♫ Schubert Schubert → → Gretchen Am SpinnradeGretchen Am Spinnrade

Schubert Schubert → → Gretchen Am SpinnradeGretchen Am Spinnrade

Wagner’s OperasWagner’s Operas

Leitmotif Leitmotif → → little tunelittle tune Help audience follow alongHelp audience follow along Character, object, event, emotionCharacter, object, event, emotion ♫ ♫ Hunding (character) Hunding (character) ♫ ♫ Golden Apples (object)Golden Apples (object) ♫ ♫ Alberich’s Threat (event)Alberich’s Threat (event) ♫ ♫ Siegfried’s Anger (emotion)Siegfried’s Anger (emotion)