Western Music History: Antiquity to Modernism Study Notes

Flashcards covering key concepts, eras, composers, and styles from the history of Western music, spanning from Antiquity through the Renaissance, Baroque, Age of Enlightenment (Classical), Romantic, and 20th Century Modernism.

How does the history of music parallel the history of Western civilization?

It parallels the history of Western civilization over the last 2000 years.

When did the Medieval Era take place?

The Medieval Era was approximately from 450-1450.

When did the Renaissance Era take place?

The Renaissance Era was approximately from 1450-1600.

When did the Baroque Era take place?

The Baroque Era was approximately from 1600-1750.

When did the Classical Era take place?

The Classical Era was approximately from 1730-1820.

When did the Romantic Era take place?

The Romantic Era was approximately from 1800-1900.

What are the approximate dates for the Twentieth Century in music?

The Twentieth Century in music was approximately from 1900-2000.

Which traits are associated with the 'Classic' style in music?

Logic, order, realism, intellect, and universal community.

Which traits are associated with the 'Romantic' style in music?

Emotion, imagination, individuality, art, color, and free form.

What is considered the earliest known musical notation?

The Hurrian Hymn.

What was the dominant influence in culture, education, and music during the Medieval Era?

The Catholic Church.

What are the characteristics of Gregorian chant?

Monophonic, purely vocal, no instruments, free rhythm, meditative flow, and text in Latin.

Who was credited with unifying Gregorian chants?

Pope Gregory I (540-604).

Who were troubadours during the Medieval Era?

Poet-musicians, often nobility, who performed secular entertainment.

What does 'polyphony' mean in music, and when did it begin to develop significantly?

Polyphony means two or more melodic lines performed at once, and it began at the end of the Medieval period.

Which key figures are associated with the development of polyphony at Notre Dame in Paris?

Léonin (c.1150-1201) and Pérotin (c.1170-1236).

What does the term 'Renaissance' mean, and what major events defined this period?

Renaissance means 'rebirth,' and it was shaped by the end of the Hundred Years' War, the invention of the printing press, and Columbus's discovery of the New World.

What was the most important secular vocal genre in the Renaissance?

The Madrigal.

What is 'word painting' in Renaissance music?

A technique where the music reflects the meaning of the text.

What were the two most important sacred forms during the Renaissance?

The Mass and the Motet.

Who was Martin Luther, and what musical reform did he initiate?

Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation (1517), which broke from the Catholic Church and influenced congregational singing.

What was the purpose of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) regarding sacred music?

It initiated Catholic Church reforms that included simplifying chant and sacred music.

Who was Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and what was his significance?

He was a significant Renaissance composer whose Pope Marcellus Mass exemplified clear text within polyphonic music.

What does the term 'Baroque' signify in relation to the era's style?

It signifies irregular, ornate, elaborate, and decorative styles in art, architecture, fashion, and music.

In the Baroque Era, who commonly employed musicians?

Musicians often worked as servants for courts.

What is 'chamber music' in the Baroque Era?

Music for small, intimate ensembles, typically 3-4 players.

What is a 'concerto' in the Baroque Era?

A musical work featuring a soloist or multiple soloists accompanied by an orchestra.

Who was a significant innovator of the concerto during the Baroque Era?

Antonio Vivaldi.

What was the most significant new genre of the Baroque Era?

Opera.

Which group is credited with creating opera?

The Florentine Camerata in Italy.

Who composed the first opera masterpiece, L'Orfeo?

Claudio Monteverdi (1607).

What characterized the Age of Enlightenment (1730-1820) regarding music and philosophy?

A return to classicism emphasizing balance, reason, order, and philosophical ideals like equality and democracy.

How did music become more accessible during the Age of Enlightenment?

Public concerts grew, making music accessible to the middle class rather than just court entertainment.

What new genres emerged during the Age of Enlightenment/Classical Era?

The Symphony and the String Quartet.

Which instrument replaced the harpsichord as the primary keyboard instrument during the Enlightenment?

The piano, allowing for more expressive dynamics.

What are the common forms emphasized in Classical Era music?

Sonata-allegro form, Theme & Variations, and Rondo form.

Which city was the cultural and music hub of the 18th century, housing the 'Viennese School'?

Vienna.

Who are the main composers of the Viennese School?

Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert.

Who is known as the 'Father of the Symphony' and 'Father of the String Quartet'?

Franz Joseph Haydn.

Which composer bridged the Classical and Romantic eras?

Ludwig van Beethoven.

What were the main characteristics of the Romantic Era (1800-1900)?

Focus on individual expression, emotion, freedom, imagination, and extremes.

What two opposing scales of musical works were prominent in the Romantic Era?

Miniature works (intimate salon concerts, piano solos, lieder) and Monumental works (large symphonies, operas, masses).

What is a 'lied' (plural: lieder)?

An art song, a miniature Romantic genre, typically for voice and piano.

Who was a key composer known for his lieder in the Romantic Era?

Franz Schubert.

What is a 'leitmotif' found in Wagner's operas?

Musical themes associated with specific characters, objects, or ideas.

What musical movement, led by Claude Debussy, emphasized coloristic harmonies and blurred tonality?

Impressionism.

Which musical movement explored dark inner emotions and utilized atonality and the 12-tone system?

Expressionism.

Who was the primary figure associated with Expressionism and the development of the 12-tone system?

Arnold Schoenberg.

What is 'aleatory music' or 'chance music'?

Music where some element of the composition is left to chance, or some primary element of a composed work's realization is left to the performer's determination.

Who is a notable composer of 'chance music'?

John Cage.

What was America's first true art form that spread worldwide in the 20th Century?

Jazz.