RCM Level 10 History Middle Ages

When did the Middle Ages begin?

ca. 476

When did the Middle Ages end?

ca. 1450

What event marks the beginning of the Middle Ages?

Fall of Roman Empire

What event marks the end of the Middle Ages?

Fall of Constantinople

What information is uncertain in Medieval notation?

Notes, rhythm, forces, tempo

Why are Medieval manuscripts incomplete?

Lack performance details

What was very powerful in the Middle Ages?

Roman Catholic Church

What concepts dominated Medieval Europe?

Ethics, morality, theology

What is the Mass?

Main Catholic service

What is the Eucharist?

Last Supper reenactment

What are the five Mass Ordinary sections?

Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei

How were chants originally learned?

Memorization

What did singers use to remember chants?

Hand signals

What were the earliest notation symbols called?

Neumes

What did early neumes show?

Melodic direction

What staff was later developed?

Four-line staff

What texture has one melody line?

Monophonic

What texture has multiple independent lines?

Polyphonic

What does polyphony add to music?

Layers

What is a mode?

Scale pattern

What type of music often uses modes?

Folk music

What was Medieval rhythm generally like?

Free-flowing

What is unmeasured rhythm?

Natural text rhythm

What was musica mundana?

Universal mathematical harmony

What did polyphony lead to?

Rhythmic modes

What did rhythmic modes use?

Triple division

Who introduced duple rhythmic division?

Vitry and Machaut

Why was Medieval melodic range narrow?

Nonprofessional singers

What type of leaps were avoided?

Large leaps

What instruments were appropriate for worship?

Voice and organ

What is secular music?

Nonreligious music

How was much secular music transmitted?

Orally

What are formes fixes?

Fixed poetic forms

What are the three main formes fixes?

Ballade, rondeau, virelai

What is the form of a ballade?

AAB

What is the simplest rondeau form?

AB-aAab-AB

What is the form of a virelai?

ABBA

What is Gregorian chant based on?

Modes

Were ancient Greek modes the same as Medieval modes?

No

What is Gregorian chant?

Roman Catholic plainchant

What is plainchant?

Monophonic modal music

What is the origin of Gregorian chant?

Hebrew chant tradition

How was Gregorian chant originally transmitted?

Orally

Who organized Gregorian chant?

Pope Gregory I

Did Pope Gregory I compose the chants?

No

When did Pope Gregory I live?

540-604

When did Gregory lead the Church?

590-604

What was Pope Gregory I responsible for?

Organizing liturgy

What were schola cantorum?

Singer training schools

How long did schola training last?

About 9 years

Who usually had the chant book?

Lead performer

What did other singers do? (In the Middle Ages other than the lead singer)

Memorized chants

What does mono mean?

One

What does poly mean?

Many

What is monophonic texture?

One melody

Does monophony have harmony?

No

What is polyphonic texture?

Multiple melodies

What is another name for polyphonic texture?

Contrapuntal texture

What does a cappella mean?

Without instruments

What does a cappella literally mean?

In the chapel

What are Medieval modes based on?

Whole/half steps

Name two Medieval modes.

Dorian, Phrygian

What is plainchant also called?

Plainsong

What are characteristics of plainchant?

Monophonic, modal, narrow

What language is Gregorian chant usually in?

Latin

What other language can Gregorian chant use?

Greek

What is syllabic text setting?

One note/syllable

What is neumatic text setting?

2-4 notes/syllable

What is melismatic text setting?

Many notes/syllable

Which text setting is most elaborate?

Melismatic

What is responsorial singing?

Solo + chorus

What is the solo section called?

Verse

What is the chorus section called?

Respond

What is antiphonal singing?

Two soloists alternate

What is the Mass?

Main Catholic service

What does the Mass include?

Prayers, readings, Eucharist

What is the Mass Ordinary?

Unchanging texts

What are the Ordinary sections?

Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei

What is the Mass Proper?

Changing texts

What determines the Mass Proper?

Church calendar

What are the Proper sections?

Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion

What is the Gradual?

Fourth Proper section

What are Gradual texts mainly based on?

Psalms

How is the Gradual usually performed?

Responsorially

What is Haec dies?

Gregorian chant

Where is Haec dies found?

Mass Proper

What Mass is Haec dies from?

Easter Day

What type of Mass section is Haec dies?

Gradual

What language is Haec dies in?

Latin

What mode is Haec dies in?

Dorian

Who composed Haec dies?

Anonymous

What is the texture of Haec dies?

Monophonic

Who performs Haec dies?

Soloist + chorus

What is the text source of Haec dies?

Psalm 118

What does organum represent?

Early polyphony

What is the organum version of Haec dies?

Polyphonic

What serves as the backbone in organum?

Original chant

What was early organum?

Improvised polyphony

What did parallel organum add?

Parallel lines

What intervals were common in parallel organum?

4ths, 5ths, octaves