Music of the Medieval Period A journey in music through the Medieval Period Mrs. Heberer Music MF 1 February 14, 2012

A brief history of Medieval Music This era begins with the fall of the Roman Empire and ends sometime in the early fifteenth century. The earliest Medieval music did not have any kind of notational system. This form of notation only served as a memory aid for a singer who already knew the melody. The music theory of the Medieval period saw several advances over previous practice both in regard to tonal material, texture, and rhythm. Concerning rhythm, this period had several dramatic changes in both its conception and notation. Due to the outstanding advances, musicologists debated often and feverishly. Medieval music is Western music written during the Middle Ages. This era begins with the fall of the Roman Empire and ends sometime in the early fifteenth century. The earliest Medieval music did not have any kind of notational system. The tunes were transmitted by oral tradition.  This form of notation only served as a memory aid for a singer who already knew the melody. The music theory of the Medieval period saw several advances over previous practice both in regard to tonal material, texture, and rhythm. Concerning rhythm, this period had several dramatic changes in both its conception and notation. During the early Medieval period there was no method to notate rhythm, and thus the rhythmical practice of this early music is subject to heated debate among scholars.

Troubadours and Trouvères Troubadours – a composer and performer from Northern France during the Medieval Era Trouveres – the Northern France version of the Troubadour. The music of was a dialect tradition of monophonic secular song The language was Occitan and Old French. The period of the troubadours corresponded to the flowering of cultural life in Provence which lasted through the twelfth century and into the first decade of the 13th. Common topics of troubadour/trouveres song were war, chivalry, and love. Most of the more than two thousand surviving songs show a sophistication of music and poetry. The music of the troubadours and trouvères was a vernacular tradition of monophonic secular song, probably accompanied by instruments, sung by professional, occasionally itinerant, musicians who were as skilled as poets as they were singers and instrumentalists. The language of the troubadours was Occitan (also known as the langue d'oc, or Provençal); the language of the trouvères was Old French (also known as langue d'oil). The period of the troubadours corresponded to the flowering of cultural life in Provence which lasted through the twelfth century and into the first decade of the thirteenth. Typical subjects of troubadour song were war, chivalry and courtly love. The period of the troubadours wound down after the Albigensian Crusade, the fierce campaign by Pope Innocent III to eliminate the Cathar heresy (and northern barons' desire to appropriate the wealth of the south). Surviving troubadours went either to Portugal,Spain, northern Italy or northern France (where the trouvère tradition lived on), where their skills and techniques contributed to the later developments of secular musical culture in those places. The music of the trouvères was similar to that of the troubadours, but was able to survive into the thirteenth century unaffected by the Albigensian Crusade. Most of the more than two thousand surviving trouvère songs include music, and show a sophistication as great as that of the poetry it accompanies.

Hildegard von Bingen 1098 – September 17, 1779 German compooser Bingen wrote theological, botanical and medicinal texts in addition to music Uncommon for women to be as well-known Wrote the oldest surviving morality play, “Ordo Virtutum” Wrote sacred monophonic music for voices and lute 1098 – September 17, 1779 German writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, Benedictine abbess, visionary, and polymath. Bingen wrote theological, botanical and medicinal texts in addition to music Uncommon for women to be as well-known Wrote the oldest surviving morality play, “Ordo Virtutum” Wrote sacred monophonic music

Perotin C. 1200 – DOB is relatively unknown European composer Also known as “Perotin the Great” Wrote in the ars antigua, organa (early polyphony music), and Gregorian chant styles Most famous member of the Notre Dame school of polyphony Anonymous IV called him “magnus,” a mark of esteem. Works include Viderunt omnes, Sederunt principles, and Alleluia, Posui adiutorium He wrote for solo voices, a cappella music

Guillaume de Machaut C. 1300 – April 1377 French poet and composer One of the first composers with biological information Brother-in-law to a French King “The last great poet who was also a composer” Composed a wide range of styles including the motet, rondeau, ballade, and polyponic forms Ars Nova musical movement dealing with love Messe de Nostre Dame, En un gardin, Zodiac Wrote mostly a cappella works

Medieval Instrumnets Pan flute and gemshorm – made of wood, side-blown or end-blown. Member of the woodwind and ocarina family. Possibly of Hellenic origin String instruments – lute, mandore, gittern, psaltery, dulcimers, zithers Lyra – first recorded European bowed string instrument

More Medieval Instruments Hurdy gurdy was a mechanical violin Most instruments were usually played alone, sometimes in small chamber- type ensembles Most instruments were 14-century instruments, created during this time period or a little earlier

Medieval Instruments, cont. Gemshorn Hurdy-Gurdy Gittern Dulcimer Jaw Harp Vielle

Musical Genres Gregorian Chant Ars Nova – new music Monophonic – one melody, no harmony Vocal genre, no accompaniment Sacred – used often in churches, liturgical Very seldom were these chants written down Created by Pope Gregory the Great Still used today Hildegard de Bingen wrote several chants Ars Nova – new music Polyphonic – more than one vocal line Mostly secular (not in church) – French A movement wanting more new music Rejected by the Pope - The monophonic chant, was becoming altered Merging secular music with sacred music Guillaume de Machaut Used instruments, some a cappella

Musical Genres, cont. Motets Madrigal Varied topics, mostly sacred/some secular texts “A piece of music Is several parts and words” Motet – to move Cantus Firmus – counterpoint 2 to 3 part songs, French, Latin, English texts Chamber ensembles and a cappella Guillaume de Mauchant Madrigal Secular vocal composition, partsongs Varied voices, from 2 – 10, mainly 6 Italian through-composed Funny topics, usually about love Almost always a cappella The Aria formed from Madrigals Piertro Bembo and Petrarch

Musical Examples Guillame de Machuat – Rose, Lis, Printemps, Verdue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPQjqZm6q0Q Machaut – Messa de Nostre Dame http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfFafi6OagM&fe ature=fvsr Hildegard of Bingen – Spiritus Sanctus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJEfyZSvg5c Various – Madrigals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgwxnEs8yqY&f eature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLE908FCCA C5476BE2 Brunette and Puerum – 2 motets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLD7FiHaTqE

A few more things…. Music in Everyday Life Integral part of everyday life for the people of that time period. Music of the Middle Ages was especially popular during times of celebration and festivities. Music was often played during holidays and special parties. On Mayday, dancers would dance to specially-prepared, high-pitched music. It was believed that by doing so, the hibernating spirits would be awakened and forewarned that spring had arrived. People during the Middle Ages also ate to the sound of traditional music during and between meal courses. It was believed in those days that medieval music was not only delightful to the ears, but it also helped in the digestion of food, hence the reason for music at mealtimes. The music of Medieval times was very important to the listeners of that era, whether it be for special celebrations, holidays, or for something as simple as eating a meal. During weddings and birthdays, the music was especially uplifting. For weddings and on Valentine's Day, lovers' music was played that was sure to evoke a romantic atmosphere. This type of music was called "chivaree." The musicians would play buoyant and cheery music with crescendos. Many a different Medieval music instrument was played, including, recorders, horns, trumpets, whistles, bells, and drums.