1. Early Music – Medieval
Some examples and resources

2. Timeline for Reference

3. Medieval Notation
Notation was created to help standardize Gregorian Chant from region to region
Many innovations were made by the Benedictine monk Guido of Arezzo (c )
Guido of Arezzo helped move Medieval neumatic notation closer to modern music notation
The Guidonian Hand was an important tool for training singers
Early notation was not as specific as modern notation and served more as a reminder for a melody that one already knew
Example of Medieval notation
Guidonian Hand:

5. Music in the Middle Ages
Music for the Church
Gregorian Chant
The official music of the Church for 1,000 years
Named after Pope Gregory “The Great” who reigned from AD
Represents the single voice of the Church rather than the individual
The musical texture of Gregorian Chant is “Monophonic”. Monophonic music has only a single melodic line without any accompaniment or counter-melodies.
Has an “other-worldly” quality created by rhythmically unmeasured melodies and use of Church Modes. Modes are musical scales with slightly different patterns from the typical major or minor tonalities.
Alleluia: Vidimus Stelllam
Pope Gregory

6. Typical Gregorian Chant Manuscript

7. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
German scientist, philosopher, theologian, Benedictine nun, and composer
While it is impossible to accurately date all of Hildegard’s musical compositions, it has been generally assumed that the majority of them date from c Each was written for specific days and celebrations in the Church calendar.
She is by far the most famous composer of monophonic plainchant
Ordo Virtutum was composed c It is the earliest “morality play” and the only Mideival music drama to survive with both music and text. Complete performance:
O Virtus sapientiae:

8. Secular Music in the Middle Ages
Basically divided into two categories: Dance music and Love Songs
Many songs were written by noblemen known as Troubadours
Troubadour songs were mainly about Courtly Love and Tales of Chivalry
Dance music was extremely simple and played during celebrations and festivities
“Medieval Love Songs”:
( )
Medieval viola and recorder:
Troubadours Documentary:

9. The School of Notre Dame (c. 1160-1250)
A group of composers working around the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
The two most important composers were Léonin (c ) and Pérotin (c. 1200)
They composed organum
Organum: a form of medieval polyphony usually based on a cantus firmus (Chant melody) duplicating the preexistent melody at a given constant interval. Drone tones may also be added to fill out the harmony.
Developed a system for notating rhythm that allowed them to write more complicated music. The old system of unmeasured rhythm required music to be fairly simple.
The first motets arose from the Notre Dame composers. A motet is a choral work in multiple sections usually sacred in nature.
Perotin’s Sederunt principes (1199):

10. Leonin and Perotin – more from study.com (free trial avail)
perotin-musical-contributions-polyphony-ars- antiqua.html

11. Views of Notre Dame

12. Ars Nova (The New Art)
A musical style that flourished in the Late Middle Ages (c ) in France and the Burgundian Low Countries
Ars Nova (New Art or New Technique) is contrasted with Ars Antique (Old Art or Old Technique) which was the term for music of the 13th century going back as far as the School of Notre Dame
Their blending of sacred chant melodies with secular tunes and complicated polyphony offended many in the Church
Rhythmic notation was quite sophisticated by this time allowing composers to create even greater expressiveness and variety
This dramatic shift in musical style that occurred between the 13th and 14th centuries in music is comparable to the introduction of perspective in painting
Manuscript for Belle, bonne, sage,
by Baude Cordier (c. 1400)

13. Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-77)
The most important French composer and poet of the 14th century
Part of the musical movement known as Ars Nova
He helped develop the motet and several secular song forms (particularly the formes fixes: rondeau, virelai, and ballade)
Composed the Messe de Notre Dame (Mass of Our Lady) which is the earliest known polyphonic setting of the mass
Machaut - “Since I am Forgotten” :
Machaut -Agnus Dei:
Age of Invention (Story of Music), Part 1: