Wesleyan University, Department of Music
Medieval and Renaissance Music (MUSC 241/MDST 221)
Professor: Rosemary Dubowchik
Time: MWF 9:00-9:50
email: rdubowchik@wesleyan.edu
Music Studios 301
Fall 2012
Office hours: M, W 10:00-11:00
or by appointment
Course description: The course examines the history of music in Europe from antiquity to the end of the Renaissance (531 BCE to
ca.1600 CE). In the process of studying the many changes in musical styles that occurred during these centuries, several broader
topics will be addressed. Among these are the social and historical contexts of musicians and musical performance, the relation
between words and music in different historical periods, and historically informed approaches to musical analysis. The material will
be presented through lectures and discussion, listening assignments, singing, and readings.
Objectives: By the end of this course, you should be able to recognize major genres and stylistic developments of music in the
Medieval and Renaissance periods, and be familiar with significant composers, sources, and cultural influences on musical life.
Required textbooks:
Assessment:
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Jeremy Yudkin, Music in Medieval Europe (Prentice Hall, 1989)
Allan Atlas, Renaissance Music (Norton, 1998)
Allan Atlas, Anthology of Renaissance Music (Norton, 1998)
3 Quizzes (each 5%) 15%
5 Listening assignments (each 2%) 10%
Midterm exam 15%
Final exam 25%
Transcription project 25%
Class participation 10%
Reading assignments. You should complete reading assignments (given on the Schedule, attached) before the class sessions to
which they pertain.
Listening assignments. The schedule provides a list of all of your listening assignments, which should be done as preparation for
the classes to which they pertain. Additionally, there will be 5 listening assignments for which you will submit a written
assignment for grading. These will be distributed in class. All musical works assigned for listening are available on Moodle.
Scores for all assigned listening can be found in Yudkin (Medieval) or the Atlas Anthology (Renaissance) textbooks.
3 Quizzes: Each quiz will be based on reading and listening assignments for the period specified in the schedule.
Exams: The midterm exam will be at the end of our unit on Medieval music. The final exam will cover Medieval and
Renaissance music. For each exam, you will be asked to identify listening excerpts from assignments; define significant terms;
give short answers to questions about composers and musical works, and answer in essay form a question about broader
themes discussed in class.
Transcription project: You will transcribe one musical work of the 15th century from facsimiles of the original notation into a
modern edition. We will use Atlas, chapters 4, 17, 21, and 30, as well as information distributed in class.
Class participation: In order to be successful in this course you should attend class regularly and participate in class discussions
and activities. All electronic devices not being used for note-taking should be turned off during class periods. It is important
that you complete all reading and listening assignments before the class in which they are discussed. PLEASE BRING YOUR
TEXTBOOK(S) TO CLASS (Yudkin 9/10-10/19 and 10/26; Atlas text and anthology 10/24-12/7)
Grading:
 Grades will be assigned according to the scale determined by WU’s Academic Regulations: A+ = 98.3; A = 95; A- = 91.7;
B+ = 88.3; B = 85; B- = 81.7; C+ = 78.3; C = 75; C- = 71.7; D+ = 68.3; D = 65; D- = 61.7; E+ = 58.3; E = 55; E- = 51.7; F = 45
Reference Materials:
 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed., edited by Stanley Sadie (Macmillan, 2001). REF ML100.N48 2001
or online access from the library website by Oxford Music Online. This is the most comprehensive music reference tool.
 The Oxford Dictionary of Music, edited by Michael Kennedy (Oxford, 2006). REF ML 100.K35.2006, or online access to 2nd
ed. from the library website by Oxford Music Online. Provides definitions of musical terms, composers’ biographies in
shorter entries than the New Grove Dictionary.
Schedule of Classes and Assignments
Date
M 9/3
W 9/5
F 9/7
M 9/10
W 9/12
F 9/14
M 9/17
W 9/19
F 9/21
M 9/24
W 9/26
Topic for class period
Introduction
The transition from Antiquity to the
Middle Ages
Chant before Charlemagne
Chant: styles, modes, and notation
The Mass
Monasticism and the Office
Later developments of chant: tropes,
prosulas, sequences
Latin Songs and Drama; Carmina
Burana
Quiz #1 (9/10-9/17)
Hildegard of Bingen
Troubadours and Trouvères
Vernacular music of Italy, Iberia,
England, and Germany
Reading
Yudkin 1-17,
19-32
Yudkin 33-42
Yudkin 43-80
Yudkin 83-136
Yudkin 139-200
Yudkin 203-231
none
Yudkin 231-249
1. Walter of Châtillon, Sol sub nube
2. Anonymous, O monialis concio
none
1. Bernart de Ventadorn, Can Vei La Lauzeta
2. Giraut de Borneil, Reis Glorios
3. Gaucelm Faudit, Fortz Chausa
4. Raimon de Miraval, Bel m’es qu’ieu chant
5. Gace Brulé, Biaus M’est Estez
6. Colin Muset, Sire cuens
7. Adam de la Halle, A Dieu commant amouretes
1. Martin Codax, Ondas do mar
2. Cantiga di Santa Maria, Non e gran cousa
3. Worldes Blis
4. Bryd One Brere
5. Walter von der Vogelweide, Nu Alrest Lebe Ich
6. Neidhart von Reuenthal, Meie, Din Liehter
1. Kyrie Cunctipotens genitor
2. Nostra phalans
Perotinus, Alleluya, Posui Adiutorium
none
Yudkin 252-295
Yudkin 296-332
Listening assignment #1 is due.
F 9/28
The Rise of Polyphony; Codex
Calixtinus
Notre Dame Polyphony; The Magnus
Liber; Léonin and Pérotin
The Early Motet; Hocket
Yudkin 337-355
Instruments and Instrumental Music;
Dance Music
Quiz #2 (9/21-10/3)
The Ars Nova; Roman de Fauvel
Yudkin 432-454
W 10/10
F 10/12
Visit to Special Collections
Machaut; the Mass in the Fourteenth
Century
none
Yudkin 474-507
M 10/15
W 10/17
Fall break, no class
Trecento Italy; Landini
M 10/1
W 10/3
F 10/5
M 10/8
Listening Assignment #2 is due
F 10/19
M 10/22
Review
Midterm Exam
Listening
Yudkin 357-391
Yudkin 391-429
Yudkin 458-474
Yudkin 520-559
none
Yudkin provides many examples of monophonic (onepart) chant. You should try to sing these examples as
you read.
1. O Natio/Hodie Perlustravit
2. Mout me Fu Grief/Robins m’aime/Portare
3. Aucun Ont Trouve/Lonc Tans/Annuntiantes
Estampie La Quinta… Real (3 versions)
Philippe de Vitry, Douce playsence/Garison Selon
Nature/Neuma Quinti Toni
none
1. Machaut, Christe qui lux/Veni creator
2. Machaut, Le Lay de la Fonteinne
3. Machaut, Moult sui
4. Machaut, Doulz Viaire Gracieus
5. Machaut, Comment Puet On
6. Machaut, Honte, Paour, Doubtance
1. Per Tropo Fede
2. Jacopo da Bologna, Fenice Fu’
3. Landini, Donna S’I’ T’o Fallito
4. Landini, Gram Piant’ Agli Ochi
5. Faenza Codex, Honte, paour and Non avrà
arrangements
6. Istampitta Ghaetta
W 10/24
Dunstable; Contenance Angloise
Atlas 3-19,
21-22
1. Dunstable, Quam pulchra es
2. Dunstable, Veni Sancte Spiritus/Veni creator
3. Agincourt Carol (Deo gracias, Anglia)
F 10/26
The Ars Subtilior; Avignon; Ciconia
Yudkin 561602; Atlas 2223, 27-42
M 10/29
Secular Song in the 15th Century;
Formes Fixes
Atlas 57-75,
185-201
1. Grimace, A L’arme, A L’arme
2. Baude Cordier, Belle, bonne, sage
3. Anthonello de Caserta, Beaute Parfaite
4. Haucourt, Je Demande
5. Ciconia, Una Panthera
6. Grenon, La plus jolie et la plus belle
7. Baude Cordier, Se cuer d’amant
8. Ciconia, Ut te per omnes/Ingens alumnus
9. Ciconia, O rosa bella
10. Dunstable-Bedyngham, O rosa bella
1. Dufay, Resvellies vous
2. Dufay, Adieu m’amour
3. Binchois, Dueil angoisseus
4. Busnoys, Je ne puis vivre
5. Ockeghem, S’elle m’amera/Petite camusette
6. Hayne van Ghizeghem, De tous biens plaine
7. Cornago, ¿Qu’es mi vide preguntays?
Busnoys, A vous sans autre
Listening Assignment #3 is due.
W 10/31
Transcription Project: Editing a
Chanson
F 11/2
Dufay’s Life; Motets
M 11/5
The Cyclic Mass; Cantus Firmus; the
L’homme armé tradition
W 11/7
Artifice and Complexity; Busnoys,
Ockeghem; Instrumental Music
Josquin’s Life, Motets and Masses
Atlas 150-163,
215-233
Atlas 249-284,
293-294, 302304
The Requiem; Alternatim Mass;
Choralis Constantinus
Quiz #3 (10/24-11/9)
Josquin: Chansons
Atlas 311-320
1. Pierre de la Rue, Missa pro defunctis: Introitus
2. Isaac, Missa de apostolis: Kyrie
Atlas 336-358
The Polyphonic Song in Spain,
Germany, and Paris; The Italian
Madrigal; German Lied
Atlas 359-364,
421-447
1. Josquin, Plus nulz regretz
2. Josquin, Baisés moy
3. Josquin, Faulte d’argent
4. Josquin, El grillo
1. Juan del Encina, Una sañosa porfia
2. Finck, Ich stund an einem morgen
3. Isaac, Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen
4. Claudin de Sermisy, Je n’ay point plus
5. Passereau, Il est bel et bon
6. Janequin, Les cris de Paris
7. Verdelot, Madonna per voi
8. Arcadelt, Il bianco e dolce
9. Senfl, Das Gläut zu Speyer
1. Luys de Narváez, Cuatro diferencias sobre
Guárdame las vacas
2. A. de Cabezón, Diferencias sobre las vacas.
3. Merulo, Toccata
F 11/9
M 11/12
W 11/14
F 11/16
Atlas 44-53,
238-244, 286291, 473-479
Atlas 86-103,
109
Atlas 112-128,
145-150
Listening Assignment #4 is due.
M 11/19
Music Printing; Instrumental Music:
Variations and Toccata
Atlas 457-470,
487-493, 499.
1. Dufay, Nuper rosarum flores
2. Dufay, Ave Regina Caelorum (III)
1. Missa Caput: Sanctus
2. Dufay, Se la face ay pale
3. Dufay, Missa Se la face ay pale
4. Dufay, Missa L’Homme armé: Agnus Dei
5. Busnoys, Missa L’Homme armé: Agnus Dei
6. Robert Morton, Il sera pour vous/L’ome armé
1. Busnoys, In hydraulis
2. Ockeghem, Missa Prolationum: Kyrie and Sanctus
1. Josquin, Ave Maria…virgo serena
2. Josquin or La Rue, Absalon fili mi
3. Josquin, Miserere mei, Deus
4. Josquin, Missa Pange lingua: Kyrie
W 11/21F 11/23
M 11/26
Thanksgiving break, no classes
The Protestant Reformation; Early
Tudor England
Mode and Chromaticism
Transcription Project is due.
Atlas, 510-525,
528-549
Atlas 555-570
1. Cornysh, Ah Robin, Gentle Robin
2. Taverner, Western Wind Mass: Sanctus
1. Lasso, Prophetiae sybyllarum: Prologue
2. Gesualdo, Moro Lasso
F 11/30
The Counter-reformation; Palestrina,
Gabrieli, and Victoria
Atlas 580-597,
604-616
M 12/3
Words and Music
Listening Assignment #5 is due.
Atlas 633-646
1. Palestrina, Dum complerentur and
2. Missa Dum complerentur: Gloria
3. Palestrina, Nigra Sum
4. Victoria, Officium defunctorum: Agnus Dei and
5. Versa est in luctum
1. Lassus, La nuict froide et somber
2. Rore, De le belle contrade
W 12/5
Elizabethan England
Atlas 661-697
F 12/7
TBA
Review
Final exam
W 11/28
All aspects of this syllabus are subject to change by the instructor.
1. Tallis, In ieiunio et fletu
2. Byrd, Christ Rising Again, part 1
3. Weelkes, As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill
Descending
4. Morley, Sing We and Chant It
5. Dowland, In Darkness Let Me Dwell
6. Byrd, Browning My Dear