Unit 2
The Middle Ages(450-1450)
The Middle Ages
Middle Ages begin with the fall of the Roman Empire
Early Middle Ages Time of unrest
Late Middle Ages Time of cultural development▪ Romanesque Churches (1000-1150)▪ Gothic Cathedrals (1150-1450)
Crusades▪ Series of wars undertaken by European Christians (1096-1291)
The Middle Ages Continued
Social Hierarchy Great division between social classes: ▪ Nobility – sheltered in castles▪ Peasants – lived in 1 room huts (most of the
populations)▪ Clergy – Roman Catholic Church was very powerful▪ Monopoly on learning as most of the population was illiterate
14th Century – an age of disintegration▪ Hundred Years’ War – (1337-1453)▪ Bubonic Plague – around 1350▪ Killed ¼ of populations
▪ Authority of Catholic church weakened▪ 1378-1417 there were two rival Popes
Music in the Middle Ages
450-1450 Church – center of musical life
Most important musicians worked for the church▪ Liturgical singing was a priority▪ Required to sing with proper pronunciation, concentration, and tone quality
▪ Boys received music education in catholic schools▪ Women were not allowed to sing in church- the could only sing in the convent
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) wrote music for choirs and the abbey
▪ Only sacred music was notated at the time Most music of the time was vocal
Church frowned on instruments because of their relation to pagan rites▪ After 1000 organs and bells became more common and acceptable
Secular song and dance flourished
Gregorian Chant
1,000 official music on Roman Catholic Church Melody set to sacred Latin texts with no
accompaniment▪ Monophonic▪ Calm quality▪ Flexible rhythm (no meter)▪ melodies usually move in steps with a narrow pitch
range Since Second Vatican Council of 1963-1965
mass is in countries native language – eliminating Gregorian chant
Gregorian Chant Continued
Named after Pope Gregory I Legend credits with development▪ Singing from psalms came from Jewish synagogues▪ Most melodies were created from AD 600-1300
Originally passed by oral tradition Too many chants and the need for uniformity caused the need
for notation▪ Earliest manuscripts date to the 9th century▪ Composers complete unknown
Medieval monks and nuns chanted for several hours each day for mass and in the office The Office – a set of 8 services▪ First at sunrise – last at sunset
Mass – highlight of liturgical day▪ Some texts the same each day others different
The Church Modes
Church Modes - Scales of Gregorian Chant that are unfamiliar. Not major and minor Consist of 7 different tones and the eighth
duplicates the first an octave higher Patterns of whole and half steps are different
Though different from now – these modes were the same ones used in both secular and sacred music during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Alleluia: Vidimus stellam(We Have Seen His Star)
Alleluia from the Mass of Epiphany Elaborate and jubilant Notes are sung to singles syllables of
text Monophonic texture ABA form
A – solo with opening melody B – Solo with 2nd melody A – Choir with opening melody
O successores (You successors)by Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) Nun at the abbess of Rupertsberg in Germany Visionary and was active in religious and
diplomatic affairs Wrote music, poetry, musical drama, and
treatises▪ Musical drama is the oldest known morality play
(Ordo virtutum) First woman composer with a known large
number of works▪ Monophonic sacred songs
O successores (You successors)by Hildegard of BingenContinued
O Successores was sung by nuns at the convent Praising the holy confessors and successors of Christ Notated in manuscript as a single melodic line▪ Drone – one more long sustained tones accompanying a melody
Melody is sung by a women’s choir Made of several different phrases 1-4 notes in each syllable Range – 1 octave and a 1/6 Starts moving in steps then has more wide upward
leaps later in melody The song climax is on the work officio at the end
Secular Music in the Middle Ages
Music outside of the church still prominent Theologian Henri de Malins exposed the pleasures of
secular music and dance 1st group of secular pieces surviving time were
composed by troubadours and trouveres – French Nobles from the 12th and 13th centuries survived▪ 1,650 preserved▪ No notation of rhythm- regular meter with a defined beat▪ Most deal with love, some about the Crusades, dance or spinning
songs Knights gained great reputations as poets – chivalry▪ Performed by minstrels▪ Performed music and acrobatics▪ No civil rights – lowest social standing
Secular Music in the Middle Ages continued
Estampie (Thirteenth Century) Medieval dance One of the earliest surviving forms of
instrumental music Recording – only a single melodic line is
notated with no specific instrument▪ Rebec – bowed instrument▪ Pipe – tubular wind instrument▪ Triple meter▪ Strong fast beat
The Development of Polyphony:Organum
Prior to 700 most music was monophonic Between 700-900 some steps toward
polyphony Monks started adding a 2nd melodic line▪ Improvised▪ Duplicated chant melody on a different pitch▪ Parallel motion – 4th or 5th interval
Organum- Gregorian Chant with one or more additional melodic lines Polyphonic between 900 and 1200▪ More independent instead of complete parallel motion▪ 1100 brought rhythmic diversity
School of Notre Dame: Measured Rhythm
Paris – intellectual and art capital of Europe After 1150 also became the capital of
polyphonic music University of Paris began in 1163▪ Produced Leonin and Perotin – first notable composers▪ Referred to as the school of Notre Dame
1170-1200▪ Developed rhythmic innovations▪ Measured rhythm with defined values and meter▪ Todays ears would consider music thin – became more full
through development during this period.
Alleluia: Nativitas (The Birth; 1200?)by Perotin
Perotin – 1st known composer to write with more than two voices
Organum with 3 voices Based on the alleluia melody for the
nativity of the Virgin Mary Cantus Firmus (fixed melody)- chant
used as the basis for polyphony 6/8 time – fixed meter
Rhythmic meter – long-short-long Narrow pitch range
Fourteenth-Century Music:The “New Art” in Italy and France
Secular music became more important
Music was written not based on Gregorian Chant Drinking songs and pieces imitating
outside sounds New system of music notation New art or ars nova – music theorist
referring to Italian and French music of the time
Fancesco Landini
Franscesco Landini (?-1397) Most celebrated Italian composer of
14th century Born near France Blind Organist, poet, scholar, and inventor
of a new string instrument Works – Italian songs for 2 or 3
voices Subjects – nature, love, morality and
politics
Ecco la primavera (Spring has come;14th century)by Fancesco Landini
Carefree song – joys of spring Genre – ballata – Italian poetic and
musical form accompanied by dancing
Triple meter Fast tempo Syncopation A BB AA – A is longer – B is shorter
Guillaume de Machaut
Guillaume de Machaut (about 1300-1377) Musician and poet Born in French province of Champagne Studied theology Served many royal families Served as a church official in later life 1st important composer with works that
survived Works – courtly love songs for 1-4
performers Best known work – the Notre Dame Mass
Puis qu’en oubli sui de vous (Since I am forgotten by you, around 1363)by Guillaume de Machaut
At 60 fell in love with a young noble woman age range ended relationship
Piece written based on a narrative poem he wrote His “farewell joy” 8 line poem
Vocal melody and two accompanying parts Genre – rondeau – poetic musical form Two phrases syncopation
Notre Dame Mass(Mid-Fourteenth Century)by Guillaume de Machaut
Historical importance – first polyphonic treatment of the mass ordinary by a known composer
Mass ordinary – consists of texts that remain from day to day throughout the church year 5 sung prayers – Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and
Agnus Dei 4 voice parts Agnus Dei – prayer for mercy and peace Triple meter Complex rhythm patterns Based on Gregorian Chant