Music in the Middle Ages

Plainchant/Gregorian Chant/Plainsong

singing or chanting sacred words

Who is credited with codifying the Gregorian Chant?

Pope Gregory

Plainchant manuscript

contains words and neumes

neumes

precursor to modern-day notes

Plainchant characteristics

• Vocal

• Monophonic texture

• Non-metrical (free rhythm)

• Medieval [church] modes

• Narrow range

• Conjunct motion

• Sacred, Latin text

in paradisum

• Sacred Latin Text

• Monophonic

• Non-metrical

• Modal

• syllabic & neumatic text setting

• Mostly conjunct motion

Hildegard von Bingen

• [1098-1179]

• 1st great woman composer

• Nun

• Writer

• Mystic

"Alleluia, O virga mediatrix"

• Monophonic

• Responsorial (leader alternates with chorus)

• Ternary form

• Free rhythm

• Mostly conjunct motion

• Melismatic & neumatic

Organum

• Earliest polyphony

• Melodic line added to plainchant melody

Organum composers

• Léonin & Pérotin

• Cathedral of Notre Dame

• Ars Antiqua (Ancient Art) composers

• rhythmic modes - set rhythm patterns

rhythmic modes

set rhythm patterns

Alleluia. Diffusa est gratia

• Pérotin

• chant then organum begins

• Neumatic & melismatic

• Mostly conjunct

Gaude Maria virgo (Rejoice, Virgin Mary)

• Melismatic

• Rhythmic modes

• Polyphony & monophony

• Low voice sustains

Ars Nova

• Greater freedom of rhythmic notation

• Meter

• Harmony

• Counterpoint

Philippe de Vitry

• 1291-1361

• French composer, music theorist, poet

• Author of "Ars Nova"

Guillaume de Machaut

• 1300-1377

• French composer, poet

• Composed the Notre Dame Mass- 1st complete setting of the Ordinary of the Mass by 1 composer

Ma fin est mon commencement (My end is my beginning)

• Chanson (secular song)

• Polyphonic [non-imitative]

• 3 voices • Melismatic

• Simple Duple meter

Troubadours

south of France

Trouvères

north of France

Bernart de Ventadorn

• 1135-1194

• Well-known Troubadour

• Standard for all other troubadour/trouvère songs

La dousa vota (The Sweet Voice)

Strophic form - same music for each stanza (or verse)

Strophic form

same music for each stanza (or verse)

Jongleurs

• Minstrels

• Provided entertainment - music, acrobatics, dancing, tricks

Instrumental Secular Songs

• For dancing

• Estampies -> Triple meter & Lively rhythm

Early Music Instruments

bas (indoor) and haut (outdoor)

Soft (bas or indoor)

• Recorder

• Lute

• Rebec

Loud (haut or outdoor)

• Shawm

• Sackbut

• Cornetto

• Tabor