Middle Ages and Renaissance Music

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts and terminology in the study of music from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

Middle Ages

The historical period from approximately 450 AD to 1400, characterized by the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of dominant social classes and the church.

Plainchant/Gregorian chant

The official music of the Roman Catholic Church, sung in Latin without accompaniment, with flexible rhythm and small melodic range.

Monophonic

A musical texture consisting of a single melody line with no harmony.

Homophonic

A musical texture with one main melody accompanied by chords.

Polyphonic

A musical texture that involves multiple independent melodies occurring simultaneously.

Modes

Scales in music, including Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian.

Syllabic

A style of singing where one pitch is assigned to each syllable.

Melismatic

A style of singing where a single syllable is extended over multiple notes.

Sacred music

Music that is holy, devoted to God, or associated with religious practices.

Secular music

Music that is non-religious and often associated with common or civil matters.

Notre Dame

The center of polyphonic music in Paris after 1150, where choirmasters Leonin and Perotin developed significant musical techniques.

Organum

An early form of polyphony that adds one or more melodies to a plainchant.

Troubadours

Poet-composers from Southern France who were key figures in Medieval secular music.

Renaissance

The cultural period from 1450-1600, characterized by a focus on human emotion and individual expression.

Imitation

A musical technique involving the repetition of phrases across different voices, leading to harmony.

Word painting

A technique where music reflects the literal meaning of a song's lyrics.

Council of Trent

The ecumenical council convened by the Catholic Church to address the Protestant Reformation.

Palestrina

A composer who advanced polyphonic writing in sacred music, balancing church restrictions with clarity.

Mass Ordinary

The five fixed parts of the Mass that remain the same regardless of the church calendar.

Madrigal

A secular piece for several solo voices, often focused on love, utilizing word painting and complex harmonies.