Music History: Middle Ages to Baroque

Neumes

Early musical notation symbols for pitch representation.

Heighted Neumes

Neumes with varying heights indicating relative pitch.

Guido of Arezzo

Pioneered modern musical notation and solmization.

Solmization

System of assigning syllables to musical notes.

Franconian Notation

Notation system using note shapes to indicate duration.

Mensuration Sign

Symbol indicating the rhythm and meter of music.

Chant

Monophonic sacred music of the Middle Ages.

Ordinary of the Mass

Fixed parts of the Mass, sung regularly.

Proper of the Mass

Variable parts of the Mass, specific to occasions.

Liturgical Drama

Theatrical performances with religious themes, e.g., Ordo Virtutum.

Troubadours

Medieval poets/composers of the vernacular language.

Motet

Vocal composition, sacred or secular, often polyphonic.

Polyphony

Music with multiple independent melodies.

Organum

Early form of polyphony, adding voices to chant.

Notre Dame Period

Era of significant musical development in Paris.

Perfection Rhythm

Rhythmic structure emphasizing strong beats.

Imperfection Rhythm

Rhythmic structure with weaker beats.

Ars Nova

Innovative musical style in 14th-century France.

Humanism in Music

Focus on human experience and emotion in composition.

Point of Imitation

Technique where a musical idea is repeated in voices.

The Doctrine of Affections

Baroque theory connecting music to emotional expression.

Basso Continuo

Continuous bass line supporting harmonies in Baroque music.

Monody

Solo vocal style accompanied by instruments.

Ritornello Form

Structure featuring recurring themes in concertos.

The Four Seasons

Set of violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi.

Cantata

Vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, often sacred.

Oratorio

Large-scale musical work for orchestra and voices.