I my high school history courses. a. Agreeb. Disagree
Music as Aesthetic Object: Sounds that are great to listen to in the present Music as Historical/Cultural Artifact: Document that tells us about past culture
I. Historical Background: Medieval Period (a. k. a. The Middle Ages) (a. k. a. The Middle Ages) B. Dates (a)312 A. D. Conversion to Christianity of Constantine (b)410 A. D. Fall of Rome (c)476 A. D. End of Roman Empire 1. Beginning = 4th or 5th century A. D. A. Invention of the Renaissance (15th-16th c.) 2. Music Notation dates from after 800 A. D. 3. End of Medieval Period: 1400 or 1475? C. Cultural Importance of “The Church”
E. Pope Gregory I F. Charlemagne (France) Change from Oral to Written Tradition= “Crystallization” G. The Function of “Gregorian” Chant D. The Musical Repertoire 1.Gregorian Chant, Plainchant, Plainsong, Chant I. Historical Background: (cont.) Chant = the sounding liturgy (worship) Political Unification + Invention of Notation = “Standardizaton”
II. Musical Style of Gregorian Chant A. Texture B. Meter C. Rhythm D. Timbre a. Monophonic b. Homophonicc. Polyphonic a. Dupleb. triplec. nonmetrical ? Not notated Vocal & all male or female voices E. Melodic Contour F. Note Structure
II. Musical Style of Gregorian Chant A. Texture B. Meter C. Rhythm D. Timbre E. Melodic Contour F. Note Structure The modal system Based on 8 modes Each mode has 7 notes Each mode uses the same 7 notes as major scale Note other than ^1 = final Modes lack leading-tone effect: lacks, striving, goal-driven quality of later music a. Monophonic b. Homophonicc. Polyphonic a. Dupleb. triplec. nonmetrical ? Not notated Vocal & all male or female voices a. Mainly stepwise/conjunct b. Mainly angular/disjunct
III. Style and Function A. The Liturgical Day Mass and Offices Matins 3-4 AM LaudsDaybreak Prime6 Terce9 MassMorning SextNoon None3 PM VespersSunset ComplineBefore retiring
III. Style and Function (cont.) B. Two Special Chant Formulas 1. Recitational Chant 2. Psalm Tones (used to sing Psalms-Bible’s poetry) Tenor Intonation (lead-in) Termination (period) Mediant (comma)
III. Style and Function (cont.) C. Word-Music Relationships 1. Syllabic 2. Melismatic (melisma) 3. Neumatic (neumes) D. Performance Style 1. Direct 2. Responsorial 3. Antiphonal
IV. Exercising the Historical Imagination