1. Secular Music in the Middle Ages
Part 2, Section 3
9/28/17

2. Secular Music
Music outside the church, not religious in nature or content
Again, notation does not indicate rhythm
Probably had a defined beat though
Different from the free-flowing Gregorian Chant
First large body of secular songs surviving in a decipherable notation were composed by French nobles called troubadours or trouveres
Reputation as musical poets
Songs usually performed by court minstrels
Most songs were about love
Minstrels performed music & acrobatics in castles, taverns, and town squares - most had no civil rights/lowest social level
Important source of info - always travelling

3. Listening: Title: Estampie From: 13th Century
Estampie was a type of medieval dance - instrumental music!

4. Development of Polyphony: Organum
Part 2, Section 4

5. Organum Gregorian chant with one or more additional melodic lines
Was first improvised
Moved in parallel motion, note against note, at the interval of a 4th or 5th
Later it began to move in contrary motion
Chant on bottom was generally sung in very long notes while the added melody was added over top in shorter notes
Startling to hear an added melody that was more attractive than the chant

6. School of Notre Dame: Measured Rhythm
Paris 1150, center of Polyphonic music
Cathedral of Notre Dame was supreme monument of Gothic architecture
2 successive choirmasters of Notre Dame: Leonin & Perotin
Used measured rhythm: definite time values & clearly defined meter
Notation indicated precise rhythms & pitches for first time!
Beat had to be subdivided into threes (symbol of Trinity)
Modern listeners find it hallow & thin
Triads were considered dissonance (M3 vs. m3)

7. Listening: Title - Alleluia: Nativitas (The Birth) Composer - Perotin
Cantus firmus - chant used as the basis for polyphony