1. Medieval/Middle Ages 450-1450

2. Fall of the Roman Empire Death (Short Life Span) War Illiteracy No entertainment Living in fear

3. Historical Events Construction of Notre Dame begins: c. 1096 Mechanical clocks introduced: 1163 St. Francis founds the Franciscan order: 1209 Magna Carta: 1215 Dante’s Divine Comedy written: 1307 Hundred Years’ War between France and England: 1327-1453 The Black Death: 1347-50 Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales written: 1386

4. Gregorian Chant 4 lines staff No time signature Trying to control chaos/music unifies In Latin 900-1000: People wrote in prayer books to remind starting of the music Monophonic texture Scared Non-Lithurgical Drama “Deum verum”

5. Notre-Dame de Paris People experimenting with decorating chants Notre-Dame School- Leonin and Perotin create organum (1100) Rhythm notation (compound) New musical forms Addition of voices

6. Organum Two or more voices singing different notes Could be florid: long held note against a more decorated moving part above Could be a descant: both voices moving at the same time Perfect intervals: consonant

7. Guidonian Hand Guido of Arezzo created it around 1000 Used to teach music Helped memorize chants Began the idea of solmization based upon the syllables ut re mi fa sol la (known as hexachord) Monks learned the pattern of singing chants using solmization

8. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) Abbess: in charge of woman’s monastery Early physician Wrote practical/philosophy Musician: morality play (sacred non- liturgical) “Ave generosa”

9. Motet (c. 1250) From the word “mots” (French for “words”) Could be sacred or secular Polyphonic Upper voices: could have vernacular texts Tenor (Lower voice): could be played on an instrument Upper voices: could have different but related texts Could use two different languages

10. Troubadours and Trouveres Troubadours: South of France Language: Occitan Trouveres: North of France Language: Old French Poet-composers Either aristocrats (dukes, princes, etc.) or highly regarded servants of aristocrats

11. Music by Troubadours and Trouveres Secular: not used for spiritual purposes Monophonic texture music but can be accompanied by an instrument Written in the vernacular: common language Preserved in manuscript collections called chansonniers Dealt with courtly love

12. Bernart de Ventadorn (c. 1130?-c. 1200) One of the most famous troubadours Son of a baker First patron: Viscount Eble of Ventadorn Bernart had to flee Ventadorn after falling in love with Marguerite, Eble’s wife Eventually, became poet in the employ of Eleanor of Aquitaine; followed her to England when Eleanor became wife of Henry II Bernart in love with Eleanor?? “Can vei la lauzeta”

13. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) Wife of King Louis VII of France Had two daughters with him Marriage was eventually annulled Remarried: Henry of England Had several children, including King Richard I and King John of England

14. Ars Nova (1310s-1370s) Meaning New art or new technique Initiated by Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361) Rhythm Notation innovations Duple division of note values Subdivision of note values Beginning of time signature Style Isorhythms: repeating patterns in the tenor Musica Fieta (False): accidentals outside of the “Guidonian” hand Musica Recta (Correct): allowed only notes in the “Guidonian” hand

15. Guillaume Machaut (1300-1377) Poet/Musician Leading composer of Ars Nova Born in NE France to a middle-class family Cleric: took “Holy Orders” Poems: love Secular songs Sacred music Cycle mass Motets Wrote “La Messe de Nostre Dame” (“Mass of Our Lady”): Ordinary settingLa Messe de Nostre Dame

16. Ars Subtilior (End of 14th Century) Meaning “Subtle” or “Refined” art Flourished in the South of France and Italy Music Used complex rhythmic notation Use of “coloration” (red notes) to show changes in the subdivision of the beat Indepence of the parts

17. Italian Trecento Music (1300s-1420) Music in Italy in the 14th century Trecento meaning “Three Hundred” Secular and Scared Music

18. Francesco Landini (c.1325-1397) Leading composer of the Italian Trecento Blinded by smallpox as a child Focused on music from the point onwards Mastered many instruments Esteemed performer, composer, poet Especially regarded for his skill on the “orgenetto” (small organ) Involved in organ building “Ecco la primavera”Ecco la primavera

19. String Instruments Top (left to right): Harp, Rebec, Citole Bottom (left to right): Organistrum, Vielle (Fiddle), Lute

20. Prototype Keyboard/Hybrid String Instruments Psaltery Organ: Portative Organ: Positive

21. Prototype Woodwind Instruments Pipe & Tabor Transverse Flute Recorder Shawm

22. Prototype Brass Instruments Trumpet Oliphant Charter Horn

23. Percussion Instruments Cymbals Timbrel Triangle

24. Feudal System Send Handout!

25. Fashion! http://www.historyonthenet.com/medieval_life/clothing.htm