1. Medieval and Renaissance
Early Music
Medieval and
Renaissance

2. Some basic concepts Sacred vs. secular Vocal vs. instrumental
Sacred – music written for religious purposes or with religious themes
Secular – music of a more worldly nature
Vocal vs. instrumental
Vocal – uses one or more voices; with or without accompanying instruments
Instrumental – uses only instruments; no voices

3. Medieval Also called the Dark Ages Dark Ages philosophy
People are sinful
Deserve to lead miserable lives

4. Medieval culture and society
Feudal system was prominent
Rich land owners (powerful lords & land owners)
Poor peasants (no power)
Church (Catholic) was dominant

5. Sacred Medieval Music Mass was main form of music
Both worship and composed in general
Sung in Latin
Divided into two parts
Proper – lyrics changed with the theme
Ordinary – lyrics remained the same

6. 5 parts of the ordinary mass
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus
Kyrie
Agnus dei
The lyrics of these sections have been lifted and used in more secular settings

7. Gregorian chant Named after Pope Gregory Vocal only – no instruments
Sung in Latin
Monophonic texture
Everyone plays or sings the same single melody line with no accompaniment
No set meter – follow rhythm of the text
Text painting
Internet Extra Credit

8. Secular Medieval Music
Mostly vocal – little instrumental
Minstrels / troubadors – love songs
Motets
More complicated
Polyphonic texture
Different parts sung at the same time
Early experiments
Beginnings of harmony

9. Medieval music summary
More sacred than secular
More vocal than instrumental

11. Renaissance 1450 – 1600 (approximately)
Great discovery, rebirth, & rethinking
Began shift to secular outlook on life
Focus on life on earth, rather than the afterlife

12. Culture and society England and Italy were centers of culture Humanism
New philosophy (we’re not so bad)
Arts and sciences flourished

13. Leonardo di Vinci
Artist and scientist

14. Michelangelo

15. Explorations pushed the envelope of thinking and discovery
Christopher Columbus
Vasco de Gamma
Magellan

16. Printing press invented
Middle class emerges
Merchants
Trade from far off lands (explorers)
Printing press invented
First music published in 1501 in Venice
Made music more available to middle class

17. Reformation Martin Luther Broke away from Catholic church
Start of Protestant denominations
Services in native language
Simple congregational hymn or chorale
Sung in native language
Set off Counter-Reformation
Reactions of Catholic church
Allowed instruments in worship

18. Sacred Renaissance Music
Reformation brought simple hymns
Chorale
Counter-Reformation allowed instruments
Gabrielli – brass
Antiphony – early “stereo”
Mass was still important
Palestrina important composer

19. Renaissance Secular Music
New forms for songs / compositions
Vocal madrigal
Lively, often bawdy
Monteverdi, Morely (3 M’s)
Ballett
English composition
“fa-la-la-la-la”

20. Important part of everyday life Middle class entertained with music
Competed for largest group of musicians
Printed music now available
Guests and host would sing or play after meals (consorts)

21. Beginnings of patronage system
System by which musicians could earn a living
Composers, singers, instrumentalists
Could not work independently
Employed by the church, royalty, or wealthy family (this will last for many, many years to come)

22. Instrumental music began to grow
Consorts – groups of instruments built in different sizes but were really the same instrument
Viols and recorders
Dance music Galliard – lively, quick Pavane – slow and stately

23. Music Summary Wide use of 4-part polyphony
Polyphonic texture
Different melodies at the same time
Increase in secular – still more sacred
Increase in instrumental – still more vocal
Compared to Medieval