1. Medieval Era (Middle Ages)

2. Time Period AD
Time periods are marked by historical events
Music history begins here because that is when events started to be written down

3. Composers
Leonin and Perotin, Many anonymous composers

4. Famous Pieces
Since many were sacred and music was not widely written down, many pieces were untitled or named after the Catholic Mass
Example: Kyrie

5. Description of Music
Plainsong or Gregorian Chant (named after Pope Gregory)
Style of early Christian church
No instruments
No meter (unmeasured)
Monophonic – one-line music
Polyphony – two or more lines (850 AD)
Homophony – melody with same rhythmic accompaniment
Syllabic – One pitch per syllable (“Do, a deer, a female deer”)
Neumatic – 2 or 3 pitches per syllable
Mellismatic – Many pitches per syllable

6. Description Part 2 Nuemes – First written notation in Europe
No key signatures
Cantus Firmus – Derived from Gregorian Chant
Double or Triple meter (in sets of two or three)
Symbolic of “Holy Trinity”
Mostly Latin text, sacred
Later came 3rd voice, bar lines, time signature, cleffs (more measurement and detail)

7. Historical Context Italy, Paris, and France = center
Invention of musical staff
Started writing down music
1000 AD
Schools of Music ( )
St. Martial and Notre Dame (Both in France)
Rise of secular (non-religious) music
Troubadors – Secular music groups (French)
Instruments added and polyphonic AD

8. Historical Context: The Culture
2 centers of power:
Church
Monistraies and convents
The state (centralized government, kingdoms)
Peasant, Ruler, or Monk
Literary Figures
Dante’s “Divine Comedy” (Italy)
Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” (England)

9. Historical Context: Mass and Motet
Gregorian Chant
Non-metric, conjunct (connected), single line, connected
Notation – nuemes, 4 line stave
3 styles of text
Syllabic
Mellismatic
Nuematic
Organization of mass in two categories
Proper and Ordinary
Notre Dame School in Paris (“Grand Lady”)
Development of polyphony
Musical notation
Two composers: Leonin and Perotin

10. Historical Context: Secular Music
Goliards – students of music
Jongleurs – wondering musicians
Troubadors – Wondering musicians (South France)
Trouvers – wondering musicians (North France)
Minnesingers – German musicians

11. Instruments Sackbut (Modern day Trombone) Lute (Recorder) Harp Violin
Crumhorn (Oboe)

12. Art in Middle Ages
With team, look up art work from Middle Ages and send it to me in an
Then as a team, write down facts about the art work that you will present to the class on Friday
Try to relate this to music
Save your paper as you will add to it every day this week
1s and 2s are researchers
3s are the scribes (who can send and write down presentation facts)
4s are the leader who will lead the presentation on Friday (with help of team)

13. Composers in the Middle Ages
Find a composer from the Middle Ages. Once you find, tell Ms. Kinion and she will write it on the board. No repeats! If a team has already chosen their composer, you’ll have to find another one!
Write down facts about the composer and famous works
Describe the music and why he is important
Save your paper as you will add to it every day this week
3s and 4s are researchers
1s are the scribes (who can send and write down presentation facts)
2s are the leader who will lead the presentation on Friday (with help of team)
If someone is absent, divide up their responsibility

14. Middle Ages Instruments
instrument pictures to Ms. Kinion
Describe instrument.
If you can find a recording that you can show the class, you will get extra credit!
Present
Art work
Composer
Instruments today