1. Music in the Middle Ages
450 – 1450 A.D.

2. What comes to mind when you hear the term(s) "middle ages" or "dark ages"? Write down some sort of answer...
Can you name any important stories, people, art or even legends from this time period? 
Can you think of any specific music or even general types of music from this time period?

3. “Oh, great…old, boring stuff…why are we studying dead-guy music from more than 1,000 years ago?”
Though every culture around the world has had music, only from Western Europe do we have written records that can be translated into sound reliably. It is likely that every song you have ever heard is descended from this tradition.

4. In addition, the background harmonies of the Western music tradition are literally embedded in the fundamental functioning of the physical universe. Any object that can be made to vibrate sets up a series of overtones in the air, and the first harmonies (stacks of vibrations) formed by those waves are major and minor chords…the same types that we hear in our music. This helps explain the appeal of Western music in even non-Western culture…it “seems” to speak to humans on a basic level beyond words

5. GOALS
The goal of this section is to become acquainted with the history and characteristics of early Western (European) music and how the society of the time shaped the development of that music.

6. Terms Troubadors Mass Hildegard of Bingen Machaut Ars Antiqua Ars Nova
Roman Empire
Feudalism
Nobility, Peasantry, Clergy
Crusades
Black Death
Magna Carta
Plainchant
Gregorian Chant
Oral tradition
Notation
Sacred
Secular
Troubadors
Mass
Hildegard of Bingen
Machaut
Ars Antiqua
Ars Nova

7. under the tone of that harmony.” —Isidore of Seville
“Nothing exists without music, for the universe itself is said to have been framed by a kind of harmony of sounds, and the heaven itself revolves
under the tone of that harmony.”
—Isidore of Seville
If the String Theory of quantum Physics turns out to have any validity (that particles are just the tips of infinite “strings”, and the differences in mass are attributable to different vibratory rates), then this statement could have a modicum of truth.
The writer Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400), as depicted in a famous manuscript of his epic
Canterbury Tales (c. 1410).

8. Middle Ages
Around 450 the Roman Empire began to disintegrate.
This was the beginning of the “dark ages”.
Life was hard and full of migrations, upheavals, and wars.
In the later Middle Ages churches and monasteries were constructed, towns grew, universities were founded.

9. What was the Roman Empire?
Name something in our society/modern world that comes to us from the Roman Empire.

10. Digital Roman Empire map
This is a map of the provinces of the Roman Empire at its height. The hyperlink is a map that shows the roadways that the armies of Rome built as they conquered territory. Not many students understand the scope of Rome’s accomplishments and how much of what Rome experienced continues to shape our world now (systematic approach to trade, huge public infrastructure projects such as roads and aqueducts . (And even seemingly mundane accomplishments such as the invention of concrete, even underwater concrete), etc.

12. A 3-D model of ancient Rome at its height…over 1,000,000 people lived in the central city.

13. The Circus maximus was the largest arena ever constructed in the ancient world (and still one of the largest in history). After its last expansion, it could hold between 150, ,000 spectators of various events.

16. Interior view of the Pantheon
Interior view of the Pantheon. This is still the largest poured-concrete roof in the world (after almost 2,000 years) and is supported by its own weight with no rebar in the concrete.

17. Now name some aspects of our society that come to us from Rome.
Explain how an understanding of history might help you understand our modern world better.
Since our class is about music, why haven't we yet discussed any Roman music?
For that matter, why haven't we discussed music in this time yet?

18. Major events across the world had impacts on every aspect of society, including music.
600’s—Rise of Islam leading to conquest of most of the Mediterranean and Spain.
1100’s-1300’s—Crusades, a series of wars fought between Christian and Muslim armies for control of the Holy Land. Warriors returning to Europe brought back new foods, philosophical ideas, music and…disease!!

19. THE BLACK DEATH
1347—1350’s
The Black Death (actually the bubonic plague) is believed to have wiped out between 30-50% of the population of Europe. It is believed to have been carried by fleas who lived on rats that were brought to Italy in 1347 on merchant ships. The loss of so many left a labor shortage that led to workers demanding more wages, riots, etc.

20. This was a time of three social classes organized in a system known as feudalism:
NOBILITY
PEASANTRY
CLERGY

21. NOBILITY
Nobles were sheltered within castles surrounded by moats. They owned the land.
The men were often knights during war time.
In peace time, they amused themselves with hunting, feasting, and tournaments.

22. Peasants
Peasants – the majority of people – lived miserably in one-room huts.
Many were serfs, bound to the soil and subject to feudal overlords. They worked the land.
Homes were damp and cold. The entire family shared two rooms.
For protection, there were no windows.

23. Clergy
The clergy worked for the Catholic Church and were among the few people of the time who could read and write.
The church was the center of all life, including music
Musicians were priests and worked for the church.
An important occupation in monasteries was liturgical singing.
Women were not allowed to sing in the church.
I think it’s interesting to ask students how the ability to read and write gave the church influence in political affairs of the time…being called upon to serve as messengers to other countries, to write treaties, to keep records of harvests, etc.

24. Cathedrals
Romanesque AD
Gothic AD

25. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
A Gothic cathedral in Covington, Kentucky. It has what is considered the largest stained glass window in the world.

26. Early Music
Most of our records of early music comes to us from the traditions of the Catholic Church. Music of the Church was considered “sacred”
The earliest forms of music were chants used in worship services (from just after the time of Christ to about 600 AD)
These were known as “plainchant” and—though all were sung in Latin—there were minor differences from region to region

27. Music in the Middle Ages
Most medieval music was vocal.
The church frowned on instruments.
Around 1100, however, instruments were used increasingly in church.
The organ was most prominent.
At first it was primitive and could only be played by hitting it with your fist.
It was so loud that it could be heard for miles around.

28. Organ
Organ from the 900s.

29. Gregorian Chant
Pope Gregory I ( AD) decided to create a compilation of the music of the church, so he ordered a gathering of all of the plainchants in a compendium (legend said that all of the chants were dictated to him by a dove sent from heaven). They were known afterwards as “Gregorian Chant” .

30. Gregorian Chant Characteristics
Sung in Latin
It is a single line (no harmony). This makes Gregorian Chant “monophonic” texture.
It has flexible rhythm, without meter, and little sense of beat. Free-flowing rhythm gives the chant a floating, improvisational feeling.
The effect is otherworldly, or calm.
“Dies Irae” –Day of Wrath--from a Mass for the Dead

31. The melodies moved by step.
At first, the melodies were passed on by oral tradition (learning directly by listening), but as the numbers of chants grew to the thousands, systems of notation (writing down music) were invented and eventually became standardized.
The earliest manuscripts (written chants) were from the 800s.
Chants eventually became standardized in use and intent, with many serving as regular parts of church services.
These musical church services became the earliest form of the Catholic Mass

32. The composers of Gregorian Chant remain almost completely unknown, but one of the few we do know, and one of the earliest female composers is…

33. Hildegard of Bingen
In addition to being a nun, a writer of spiritual literature, a writer of Gregorian Chant and eventually an abbess, Hildegard was also considered by many in her time to be a prophet. Her music was radically different than other chant forms, often expression much more passion than most officials of the Church were comfortable hearing (though her passions were all for the love of duty to the Church and God) her music often resembles the sounds of modern movie scores, with haunting sounds…

34. Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179)
In 1150 founded convent in Germany
Known for miracles and prophecies
Works include collections of visions and prophecies, music, and scientific writing.

35. Secular Music
Besides Gregorian chant in the church, there was much music outside of the church, too.
The first secular (not of the church) music that has survived in notation was composed during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries by wandering French musicians called troubadours.
Many of the songs they sang have been preserved because nobles had clerics write them down.
Some 1,650 melodies have been preserved.

36. Medieval Instruments
Instruments in early secular music were used to accompany songs.
Musicians usually improvised the simple accompaniments.
While the accompaniments were melodically simple, they were rhythmically lively.
Let’s take a look at the many different instruments used in these accompaniments…

37. Harp

38. Krumhorn

39. Lute

40. Muted Cornett
Cornett

41. Psaltery

42. Sacbut
Sackbut

43. Serpent

44. Shawm

45. Hurdy-Gurdy
Hurdy gurdy

46. Drum or Tambor

47. Recorder

48. Viol

49. During the Middle Ages, wandering minstrels performed music and acrobatics in castles, and towns.
They had no civil rights and were on the lowest social level. It was a tough life.
Without newspapers, the music of the minstrels was an important source of information.

50. But sometime around 700 – 900 AD monks began to add a second melodic line to Gregorian chant.
At the beginning, it was usually improvised…possibly even added by accident by monks who simply could not sing in tune with others!!
Listeners at that time must have been surprised!
This early form of harmony was known as “Organum”

51. Developments in notation and changing practices in the use and purposes of Gregorian Chants led to divisions in the writing and performing of these works.
The older style (or “old art”) became known as the “Ars Antiqua”—the antique art. It flourished from about AD and included early harmony in the form of “Organum”.
The more progressive style became known as the “Ars Nova”—the new art. This style became widespread in about 1300 and continued to be used for centuries (both styles are now sung in many monasteries).

52. Polyphonic Music
Polyphonic music has more than one sound, but they are equal in importance.
Using precise rhythms, this was the first time in music history that notation indicated precise rhythms as well as pitches.
Soon music had more than two voices. Music with three parts began to develop, although the range was still small and hollow sounding.

53. Early Polyphony
The first type of polyphony was called parallel organum. Here the cantus firmus (the original chant) and the higher harmony mirrored each other.
Eventually composers like Leonin and his student Perotin began adding a third and fourth part above the cantus firmus, and moved away from the eerie sounding parallel organum.

54. Fourteenth Century
Secular music became more important in the lives of the people in the 1300s.
This was due to many factors including the Hundred Years’ War, the black plague, the weakening of the feudal system, and the fighting of the Popes in the Catholic church…and secular music was just not as depressing!!

55. Guillaume de Machaut
Guillaume de Machaut was a priest, but spent most of his life working with the noble families of France.
Machaut travelled to many courts and presented beautifully decorated copies of his music to the nobles.
Because of this, his music has survived for us to enjoy today.
This piece you are about to hear (The Agnus Dei) is possibly the finest composition known from the Middle Ages.

56. Agnus Dei https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gEV42RKf6E
This piece is from a Mass, which is a sacred piece of music.
It is written in four voices, some of which are doubled by instruments.
The Agnus Dei is a prayer for mercy and peace and is solemn and elaborate.
It is in triple meter.
This piece is based on Gregorian Chant, but you can hear how much this idea has developed.

57. Agnus Dei Like the chant it is based on, it has three sections.
The form for this piece is: A B A
In Machaut’s time, music was meant to appeal to the mind – as well as to the ear!
Although this sounds so different to us today, it is pleasing to our ears.

58. Notre Dame

59. The Big Takeaway…
The fall of Rome was horrible, but it also led to the growth of many different cultures as populations rebounded and grew in knowledge as well as numbers.
Music reflects these trends as it grows from simple worship music to creations of power, subtlety, beauty, and pure entertainment.