Medieval Music
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THE MEDIEVAL ERA SACRED VS SECULAR •Sacred = music of the church •Secular = music anywhere else, popular music MEDIEVAL MUSIC • Earliest music • 400-1450 • Very simple • Vocal music • Instruments started to be introduced later into this time period SACRED MUSIC • Mostly vocal music (no instruments at first) • Small ranges • Music mostly had one or two parts • There were no marked rhythms • “chant music” CHANT MUSIC • Unaccompanied vocal music • One part sung in unison • Sacred latin text • Text was a part of the church service • No meter or rhythm • Alternated between choir and soloists SECULAR MUSIC • Troubadours • Active in Southern France • Mostly poetry set to music • Love songs • Usually used instruments to accompany • Little music was written down • Performed by all classes of society MORE SECULAR MUSIC • Touveres and Minnesingers • Mixed tradition of troubadors and sacred music • Northern France and Germany • Many composers adopted this style INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC • Used to accompany dance music • Instruments were divided into two groups • Hauts – loud instruments (shawn, cornetto, drums) • Bas – soft instruments (flute, recorder, harp, lute) EARLY MUSIC NOTATION • Neumes began in the 10th century • 11th century neumes were given height to indicate some pitch level • Eventually a one line staff was used COMPOSERS HILDEGARD OF BINGEN • 1098-1179 • One of the few composers who we identify with composing chant music • Woman • Founded a convent near Bingen, Germany LEONIN • 1169-1201 • Part of the Clergy at Notre Dame of Paris • Composed organum • Type of music used in special services MACHAUT • 1300-1377 • Most important composer of 14th century • Composed sacred and secular music • “Mass of our Lady” (Mass of Notre Dame) • Best known composition of medieval music • Whole mass was in 4 part vocal music THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE MEDIEVAL ERA • Sacred Music v. Secular Music • Few instruments, mostly vocal music • Machaut composed during the Medieval Era TO SUM UP… • https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-medieval-music-history-church-musiccomposers.html
