Music History Final - Sacred Vocal Music

Gregorian Chant

Monophonic, unaccompanied sacred Catholic song, Latin, non-metric

Early Polyphony (Organum)

2 or more independent melodic lines sung simultaneously, originally parallel motion, then became more complex

Chorales

Simple, hymn-like in Lutheran Church, German, strophic

Motets

Sacred choral compositions in Latin, polyphonic, scriptural text, imitative counterpoint

Palestrina and the Stile Antico

Palestrina was the master of Renaissance sacred polyphony, stile antico: smooth melodic lines, careful dissonance, clear text setting

Cantatas (a la Bach)

Multi-movement vocal compositions for choir, soloists, and instruments, sacred and poetry combo, for church services

Oratorios (a la Handel)

Large-scale sacred musical works with choir, soloists, and orchestra, like operas but unstaged, sacred, narrative elements and dramatic choruses