Medieval Era (Middle Ages)

Time Period 800-1450 AD Time periods are marked by historical events Music history begins here because that is when events started to be written down

Composers Leonin and Perotin, Many anonymous composers

Famous Pieces Since many were sacred and music was not widely written down, many pieces were untitled or named after the Catholic Mass Example: Kyrie

Description of Music Plainsong or Gregorian Chant (named after Pope Gregory) Style of early Christian church No instruments No meter (unmeasured) Monophonic – one-line music Polyphony – two or more lines (850 AD) Homophony – melody with same rhythmic accompaniment Syllabic – One pitch per syllable (“Do, a deer, a female deer”) Neumatic – 2 or 3 pitches per syllable Mellismatic – Many pitches per syllable

Description Part 2 Nuemes – First written notation in Europe No key signatures Cantus Firmus – Derived from Gregorian Chant Double or Triple meter (in sets of two or three) Symbolic of “Holy Trinity” Mostly Latin text, sacred Later came 3rd voice, bar lines, time signature, cleffs (more measurement and detail)

Historical Context Italy, Paris, and France = center Invention of musical staff Started writing down music 1000 AD Schools of Music (1150-1175) St. Martial and Notre Dame (Both in France) Rise of secular (non-religious) music Troubadors – Secular music groups (French) Instruments added and polyphonic 1100-1300 AD

Historical Context: The Culture 2 centers of power: Church Monistraies and convents The state (centralized government, kingdoms) Peasant, Ruler, or Monk Literary Figures Dante’s “Divine Comedy” (Italy) Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” (England)

Historical Context: Mass and Motet Gregorian Chant Non-metric, conjunct (connected), single line, connected Notation – nuemes, 4 line stave 3 styles of text Syllabic Mellismatic Nuematic Organization of mass in two categories Proper and Ordinary Notre Dame School in Paris (“Grand Lady”) Development of polyphony Musical notation Two composers: Leonin and Perotin

Historical Context: Secular Music Goliards – students of music Jongleurs – wondering musicians Troubadors – Wondering musicians (South France) Trouvers – wondering musicians (North France) Minnesingers – German musicians

Instruments Sackbut (Modern day Trombone) Lute (Recorder) Harp Violin Crumhorn (Oboe)

Art in Middle Ages With team, look up art work from Middle Ages and send it to me in an email Kathleen_Kinion@scps.us Then as a team, write down facts about the art work that you will present to the class on Friday Try to relate this to music Save your paper as you will add to it every day this week 1s and 2s are researchers 3s are the scribes (who can send email and write down presentation facts) 4s are the leader who will lead the presentation on Friday (with help of team)

Composers in the Middle Ages Find a composer from the Middle Ages. Once you find, tell Ms. Kinion and she will write it on the board. No repeats! If a team has already chosen their composer, you’ll have to find another one! Kathleen_Kinion@scps.us Write down facts about the composer and famous works Describe the music and why he is important Save your paper as you will add to it every day this week 3s and 4s are researchers 1s are the scribes (who can send email and write down presentation facts) 2s are the leader who will lead the presentation on Friday (with help of team) If someone is absent, divide up their responsibility

Middle Ages Instruments Email instrument pictures to Ms. Kinion Kathleen_Kinion@scps.us Describe instrument. If you can find a recording that you can show the class, you will get extra credit! Present Art work Composer Instruments today