Music of the Medieval Period / Periods of Western Musical History

Types of Medieval Music

Mostly vocal for church use, very little instrumental as many instruments had not been invented.

Chant

AKA Plainchant/Gregorian Chant

"Plainchant," or simply "chant," is the music of the Medieval Christian church. Its origin lies partly in Jewish liturgy, and in the early Christian church's efforts to devise a form of music radically different from pagan rivals (no clapping, no dancing, no instruments, texts mostly from the Bible sung in unison). "Gregorian Chant" was named for and credited to Pope Gregory I (590 A.D. - 604 A.D.)

Monophonic Music

("mono," meaning one, and "phon," meaning sound) single line melody with no accompaniment. This is the kind of music that developed in the early Medieval period. Gregorian Chant is an obvious example of monophonic music.

Polyphonic Music

("poly," meaning many, and "phon," meaning sound) two or more lines of music being played or sung together. (Lines of music are also known as “voices” –
not to be confused with the number of people’s voices that are singing each line.) Polyphonic music developed in the later Medieval period and became the basis for most music that followed in the Renaissance and Baroque periods and beyond. A Motet is an example of polyphonic music in the Medieval period.

Secular (non-sacred) Music in the Medieval Period

Troubadours - traveling minstrels who sang songs or “ballads” about chivalry, heroic deeds, (mostly fictional subjects, such as King Arthur, Merlin, etc.) epic battles, and "courtly love stories" about members of the nobility. A lot of the words sung by troubadours have been preserved, but most of the music has been lost. The tradition of the troubadours led to the development of written literature, especially fiction. Although very little is known about the music of the Troubadours, it’s likely that it was Homophonic in texture

Most Important Development In Medieval Music

The most important development in music during the Medieval period was the

invention of the modern system of notation for music. The founder of what is now

considered the standard music staff was Guido d'Arezzo, an Italian Benedictine monk who lived from 995–1050. Guido D'Arezzo's achievements paved the way for the modern form of written music, music books, and the modern concept of a composer.

Important Composers of the Medieval Period

▪ Hildegarde von Bingen (1098-1179)

▪ Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)