Markham Woods Middle
Music History
Part 1
The Middle Ages or
Medieval Period
Medieval Period: Time Span
• From: the fall of the Western Roman
Empire in 476
• To: the early fifteenth century
– Approximately 1425
– There was not an exact end to the Medieval
Period as different parts of the world
transitioned at different times.
• What was before the Medieval Period?
Medieval Period: The Music
• Church Music
– Most all music in this time period was written
for church and religious ceremonies
– Most of the music from this period that still
exists was written anonymously
– Vocal music was dominant as instruments
were usually used for accompaniment
Medieval Period: The Music
• Music as Entertainment
– Most musicians were property of their king or
country’s ruler
– Most secular music of the time was composed
and performed as a means of cultural
influence by the king or ruler to impress their
subjects and visiting dignitaries
– Much of the “royal” music was for dance
– Composers had very little expressive freedom
Medieval Period: The Instruments
• Bagpipes
– Believed to be
developed by
herdsmen
Medieval Period: The Instruments
• Dulcimer
– From the Greek
dulce melos:
sweet sound
– A stringed
instrument
either plucked
or played with
spoon like
hammers
Medieval Period: The Instruments
• Gemshorn
– From the flute family
– Made from an ox horn
Medieval Period: The Instruments
• Harp
– Most ancient
stringed
instrument
Medieval Period: The Instruments
• Shawm
– Predecessor to the
modern oboe
– Uses an internal
cain reed
Medieval Period: The Instruments
• Hurdy-Gurdy
– Hand crank stringed
instrument
– Change notes by
pushing keys
Medieval Period: The Instruments
• Percussion
– Drums are the
earliest of
instruments
Medieval Period: The Composers
• Pope Gregory
– Created the plainchant, later named the
“Gregorian Chant”
Medieval Period: The Composers
• Hildegard von Bingen - 1150
– Ordo Virtutum (Play of Virtues)
• A play of 16 virtues versus evil
• Each of the 16 virtues is
represented by a different voice
in
• plainchant style - monophonic
Medieval Period: The Composers
• Alfonso el Sabio: King of Castile & Leon
• “He Who Gladly Serves”
• Percussion and Wind Instruments
Medieval Period: The Composers
• Francesco Landini
– “Behold Spring”
• Polyphonic