Western Music

Music of the Medieval Period

400-1400 AD

This unit discusses the first three periods of Western Music: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque. It describes the general features of each period’s historical and cultural background and the unique characteristics of its music, showing how it differs from one period to the others. Middle Ages: 400 – 1475 CE Renaissance: 1475 – 1600 CE Baroque: 1600 – 1750 CE A type of music from the Medieval Era is Gregorian Chant, which was mainly used in the early Christian Church. Music during the Renaissance period became important leisure activity. Members of the upper class were expected to have received musical training. Imitative polyphony is the distinctive characteristic. Baroque period is characterized by grand and elaborate ornamentation of sculptures, theaters, arts and music. Concerto, the Fugue, Oratorio and Chorales.

Introduction

• Listen perceptively to selected vocal and instrumental music of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
• Explain the performance practice (setting, composition, role of composers/performers and audience)
• Relate Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music to its historical and cultural background.
• Describe musical elements of given period.

At the end of this unit you, as a learner, should be able to:

bjectives

The Western music tradition and religious music development can be traced back in Europe during the medieval period from 400 CE to 1400 CE. It is called the Middle Ages, referring between the fall of the Roman Empire and the age of reawakening and discovery. Even during a time of adventurism, disturbances, and war, most music of “Dark Ages” was based upon a religious subject. Choirs expressed faith through beautiful melodies. Only the music of the Church is well-preserved because at that time only the people of the Church were educated.

Gregorian Chant was named after Pope Gregory I. Plainsong or plainchant Characteristics - Monophonic - Composed for Western church Without instrumental accompaniment- Latin liturgy - Neume notation

Organum

Troubadors

Came from the word trobar meaning “to compose”, “to discuss” “or to find.” Monophonic Sometimes with improvised accompaniment Chivalry and courtly love French language

• Monophonic
• with improvised accompaniment
• written in French language

Troubador music:

During the latter part of the Medieval period, secular music which was not bound by Catholic Traditions emerged. Most of these songs were performed across Europe by groups of musicians called Troubadors.

Adam de la Halle

or “Adam the Hunchback” A French trouvere, a poet and a composer. Adam was one of the oldest secular composers whose literary and musical works include chansons and poetic debates. His works are: Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion La Chanson du roi de Sicile

Watch

The Gregorian chant was continuously performed in the churches during the medieval period. A development was introduced by Perotin and Leonin (or Leoninus) called organum (pronounced “or-ga-num”), an early church polyphony. Organum consists of a Gregorian chant and one or more added musical lines above the chant. Usually the soloist sings the original chant melody while the choir sings the other parts in parallel motion. Here is an example of Perotin’s “Viderunt Omnes” in both neumatic and modern notation.

Organum

+ info

How to read a Chant Chant is written in Neumes, which are notes sung in a single syllable. Gregorian Chant has no meter at all. Chant is not in a minor key or a major key, but in nodes. Chant is written on a 4 – line staff, instead of 5 lines as music written on now.

Tabor

Nakers

Bagpipe

Sackbut

Trumpet

Hauts (loud)

Musical Instruments

Most of the medieval musicians used varied musical instruments. It is divided into two groups according to the amount of volume they produced the “loud” or “outdoor” Hauts, and the “soft” Bas

Positive Organ

Recorder

Harp

Fiddle

Lute

Flute

Bas (soft)

Western Music Timeline

Baroque

1600 - 1750 CE

1475 - 1600 CE

Renaissance

400 - 1400 CE

Medieval