Medieval Music
The Medieval period of music lasted from approx. 500 - 1400 AD. It runs from about the fall of
the Western Roman Empire to the beginning of the Renaissance.
• The majority of medieval music was monophonic, which means “one sound” (a single
melody line).
• One of the most common forms of medieval music was Gregorian chant. Ubi Caritas et
Amor is an example of Gregorian chant.
• Gregorian chant consists of a single vocal melody, unaccompanied by instruments, with a free
rhythm and no meter.
• The vocal range stayed within one octave.
• The Catholic Church was very important during this time and Gregorian chant was heard
during the liturgical mass, or service.
Modes
• Chants were often based on a system of modes, which were characteristic of the medieval
period.
• There were 8 church modes – (you can play them by starting on a different white note on a
piano and playing a “scale” of 8 notes on just the white notes. For example, if you start on a
D and play all the white notes up to the next D an octave higher, you will have played the
“Dorian Mode”).
• Example of Dorian Mode:
Sheet Music
• Up until this point in history, all music had been passed on by an aural tradition (by “ear.”)
• The Catholic Church wanted to standardize how all music in its churches was sung, so a
system of music notation or sheet music, was created.
• As a result, neumes were created. Neumes are signs for one or a group of successive musical
pitches.
• Neumes were the predecessor to our modern notes.
• Example of neumes in early music notation for Ubi Caritas et Amor:
Translation
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Where charity and love are, God is
there.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi
Christ's love has gathered us into
amor.
one.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum. Let us fear, and let us love the living
God.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
And may we love each other
Amen.
with a sincere heart. Amen.