Music History Midterm

meter

regular, recurring pattern of accented or unaccented beats

duple meter

meter with two main beats per measure

ONE two | ONE two

triple meter

meter with three main beats per measure

ONE two three

compound meter

main beats divided in threes

e.g. row, row, row your boat

monophonic

single melodic line w/ NO accompaniment

ex) Gregorian chant

polyphonic

multiple independent voices

ex) Bach Invention No. 13

homophonic

multiple voices but one (melody) stands out the most

ex) Bach- All of the Chorales, Aguas de Marco

Middle Ages

(500-1300 AD)

• shift to Roman Catholic Church

• purpose of art was to educate illiterate population in teachings of the Church

• appealing to the spiritual world

Troubadours and Trouvers

secular musicians North and South of France, many from wealthy families

Bernart de Ventadorn

(1135-1194)

Troubadour who wrote “ Sweet Face” in Old French- faster, steady beat/tempo, has instruments

early polyphany is

organum

cantus firmus

fixed voice

Perotin

(1200)

composer of organum

• associated with Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris

Renaissance

(1300-1600)

• “rebirth”

• revival of Roman and Greek culture

• new focus on human and sensory experiences

• new attitudes: humanism, classicism, exploration, reformation (Luther), education

Renaissance music

• expresses feelings (a more universal emotion)

• favors acapella (voices, no instruments)

• consonant harmonies and carefully controlled dissonance

• melodic character of chant

  • more embellished, specific meter, rythym, etc

Middle Ages vs Renaissance music

MA:

• sung in plainchant

• organum added some polyphonic music

Renaissance

• polyphonic music

• unifying mass musically

• more secular music

word painting

musical illustration of meanings of a word/phrase

imitative counterpoint

one melodic line introduces a musical theme, and other voices or parts "imitate" it by repeating the theme soon after