Music Revision- Unit 1

Unit 1 Medieval Music: Complete Revision Notes

SECTION 1: Keywords & Definitions

Drone
A long note held throughout the whole piece.
Ostinato
A repeating pattern.
Hurdy-Gurdy
A stringed instrument that you turn a handle to play (used for drones and melodies).
Lute
A pear-shaped string instrument.
Shawm
An oboe-like instrument with two reeds.
Psaltery
A harp-like string instrument.
Rebec
A pear-shaped bowed string instrument.
Organum
When two things are in parallel motion (two-part texture in Medieval music).
Melisma
Multiple notes per syllable.
Monophony / Monophonic
A single line of music / one sound.
Plainsong
A monophonic, sacred chant.
Parallel Motion
Two melodic lines moving in the same direction at the same interval apart.
Dorian Mode
A type of scale used in Medieval music (like D to D on the white keys of a piano).
Syllabic
One note per syllable of text.
Secular
Not religious.
Sacred
Religious.

SECTION 2: Medieval Instruments

String Instruments

Lute
- Pear-shaped, plucked string instrument.
- Ancestor of the modern guitar.
Rebec
- Pear-shaped, bowed string instrument.
- Similar to a modern violin.
Psaltery
- Harp-like instrument with plucked strings over a flat soundboard.
Hurdy-Gurdy
- Hand-cranked string instrument.
- Produces drones and melodies simultaneously.

Wind Instruments

Shawm
- An early woodwind instrument with two reeds (similar to an oboe).
- Loud, designed for outdoor performance.
Crusades connection
- The Military Crusades to the Middle East brought back many Medieval instruments to Europe.

SECTION 3: Texture in Medieval Music

Monophonic Texture

Defined as 'one sound' — indicative of a single melody line with no accompaniment.
This texture is characteristic of Plainsong / Gregorian Chant
- Example: Monks singing a sacred chant in unison.

Organum

Defined as a two-part texture used in Medieval music.
Involves two melodic lines moving in parallel motion:
- Same direction and at the same interval apart.
- Typically, the interval between notes utilized is a fifth.
Remember: Organum consists of two voices/parts moving in parallel and it is NOT monophonic.

Parallel Motion

Defined as when two parts move in the same direction by the same interval.
This is a key feature of the texture known as Organum.

SECTION 4: Sacred Chant — Plainsong & Melisma

Plainsong (Gregorian Chant)

Described as a monophonic, sacred (religious) chant.
Sung in Latin, typically performed by monks or choirs in churches or cathedrals.
Characterized by having no instrumental accompaniment and a free-flowing rhythm (not adhering to a strict beat).
Named after Pope Gregory I, who organized the chants.

Word Settings: Syllabic vs Melismatic

Syllabic
- Defined as one note per syllable.
- Example: "Al-le-lu-ia" has 4 notes corresponding to 4 syllables.
Melismatic
- Defined as multiple notes per syllable.
- Example: "Aaaaaaa-men" involves many notes stretched over one syllable.
From your notes: Texture of example 1 = Monophonic. Word setting of example 1 = Melismatic.

SECTION 5: Compositional Techniques

Ostinato
- Defined as a repeating rhythmic or melodic pattern in the accompaniment.
Drone
- Defined as a long, sustained note held throughout a piece (common in Hurdy-Gurdy music).
Organum
- Reiterates the concept of two-part parallel motion texture (see Section 3).
Parallel Motion
- Defined as the movement of two parts in the same direction at the same interval apart.
Dorian Mode
- Identified as a type of scale used in Medieval music instead of the major/minor scales.
- Specifically, this mode resembles playing from D to D using only the white keys on a piano, which gives Medieval music its distinctive sound.

SECTION 6: Crossword Answers (Key Vocabulary Check)

Clue: A medieval string instrument hand-cranked to play
Answer: Hurdy-Gurdy
Clue: Military expeditions that brought back medieval instruments
Answer: Crusades
Clue: The motion of two-part texture in Medieval Music
Answer: Parallel
Clue: A medieval string instrument in the shape of a box / dulcimer
Answer: Psaltery
Clue: When a soloist sings alone or group sings in unison, no accompaniment
Answer: Plainsong
Clue: A long note held in accompaniment
Answer: Drone
Clue: Two-part texture used in Medieval Music
Answer: Organum
Clue: Describes music that is not religious
Answer: Monophonic
DOWN: Clue: The mode Salva Nos is based on
Answer: Dorian
Clue: Word setting where each syllable has lots of notes
Answer: Melismatic
Clue: A medieval wind instrument often used in battle
Answer: Shawm
Clue: To describe something that is not religious
Answer: Secular
Clue: To describe something that is religious
Answer: Sacred
Clue: A rhythm that repeats in accompaniment
Answer: Ostinato
Clue: A medieval string instrument similar to a modern violin
Answer: Rebec
Clue: The two-part texture commonly used in Medieval Music
Answer: Organum
Clue: To describe the texture of plainsong
Answer: Monophonic

SECTION 7: Salva Nos — Performance Notes

Salva Nos :
  - It is a piece of Medieval sacred music.
  - It is based on the Dorian Mode.
  - The piece features a Drone in the accompaniment.
  - Texture identified as Monophonic (comprising a single melodic line).

Your Performance Self-Assessment (Marksheet)

Performed on: Xylophone / Piano AND Singing with Percussion.
Mark received: 10/12.
Proud of: The speed at which you managed to learn the piece.
Area to improve: Multitasking — specifically with singing and playing the xylophone at the same time.

QUICK REVISION SUMMARY

Topic: Key Facts to Remember
Texture:
- Monophonic = 1 part
- Organum = 2 parts in parallel motion

  Word setting:
  - Syllabic = 1 note per syllable
  - Melismatic = many notes per syllable

  Instruments:
  - Hurdy-Gurdy, Lute, Rebec, Psaltery (strings)
  - Shawm (wind)

Techniques:
- Drone, Ostinato, Parallel Motion, Organum

Sacred chant:
- Plainsong = monophonic, sacred, Latin, no accompaniment

Mode:
- Dorian Mode — gives Medieval music its distinctive sound

Salva Nos:
- Medieval sacred piece | Dorian Mode | Drone | Monophonic