Gothic Period Music

Irene MilidakisCultural Studies

Building onto Traditions• Gothic Period Music derived

from its preceding Romanesque practices

• Gregorian Chant: simple, monophonic liturgical music • Also known as plainchant • Sang in unison- monophonic• One melody- no harmony• Soloist and chorus singing in unison

would respond to each other • Unaccompanied by instruments - acapella Gregorian Chant-Alleluia: Angelus Domini

Musical notation was introduced by Guido d’Arezzo- Depicted notes on a staff of lines

Organum- The Beginnings of Polyphony

• Chants became more complex in the early 12th century

• The beginning signs of a transition to the Gothic period

• Harmony “Organum” –• Added an upper melody on top

of a cantus firmus (“fixed song”)• Two different pitches sung by

two singers- “organa duplum”• Simple harmoniesEarly Organum - example of Oblique Organum

Complex Progression

• Ars Antiqua (1175-1315)• Beginnings of polyphony• Simple organums• Triple Meter (3/4)• Mostly used two voices• Rapid transitions in music

notation and theory • Beginning use of rhythmic

modes

• Ars Nova (1315-1430)• Cantus Firmus used less and

less• More complex rhythms• Duple Meter (2/4)• Use of many voices- “Motet”• More secular than sacred• Use of French and Latin

vernacular • Rota- round

School of Notre DameParis, France

• Notre Dame Cathedral considered epicenter of music organization in the Ars Antiqua period

• The most well known composers came from this school

• Complex musical notation was created

• First collections of music produced-

Magnus Liber Organi by Leonin c.1163

Great Masters of Notre Dame

• Leonin (ca.1163-1190)• Great master of Ars Antiqua

period• Help established polyphony• Use of improvisation- not

known to have written own music

• Use of organum duplum- cantus firmus found in lower voice while descanting voice moves freely

Leonin- Organum Duplum

• Perotin (ca. 13th century)• Great Master of Ars

Antiqua• Helped established

polyphony• Stricter melodic control

and clearer rhythms• Added a third voice- three

part motet• Still had a cantus firmusPérotin-Alleluia nativitas

Ars Nova: Breaking from Tradition

• Innovations- • greater independence

of rhythm and polyphony lines

• Tempus imperfectum- duple meter

• Cantus firmus no longer used

• Notable Composers-• Guillaume de Machaut-Subtle and strict melodic and

rhythmic compositionsKyrie, from "Messe de Nostre

Dame“• Philippe de Vitry-Complex and fluid melodic and

rhythmic compositions-Developed way of writing

rhythm on musical staffsTuba sacre fidei

Discussion Question

• What may have contributed to the growing interest in innovating music?

Discussion Question

• What may have contributed to the growing interest in innovating music? - Increase in intellectual thought- formation of the university

brought intellectuals who contributed to the growing musical developments

- Composers were open to daring innovation- as evident in Leonin’s interest in improvisation

- Economical growth- The church was growing stronger (along with the cities) which brought in funds, offerings to assist in developing the arts

- All other facets of the arts were expanding themselves– the architecture --

Reaching the Heavens

• Connected to the architecture-• Sense of verticality heard in

music similar to architecture- They both reached towards heaven

• Subjects of these new hymns were often dedicated to Virgin Mary as were most Cathedrals

• Growing complexity of music mirrored the growing textual complexity of the cathedrals’ architecture

Breaking Away from the Church• Gothic period music was primarily created

for liturgy purposes but there was a secularization that was occurring throughout the 13th century.

• Courtly society brought about a need for secular entertainment- minstrels

• These minstrels would sing and dance often accompanied by instrumentals- folk and popular music

• Troubadors appear in Germany in the 12th c. and call themselves minnesingers – “singers of love”- secular lyrical poetry

• Troubadors would often be employed by the court as minstrels

• Tant m'abelis

Discussion Question

• What similarities are heard in the troubadour song that are similar to the polyphonic music of the Ars Nova period?

Discussion Question

• What similarities are heard in the troubadour song that are similar to the polyphonic music of the Ars Nova period? - Rhythmic and melodic complexity- Singers exhibiting vocal ability- vocal range, constant

change in pitch and tone

Contributions• Gothic period music greatly contributed to

the developments in musical study- • All music today (both religious and secular)

would still sound like the Gregorian Chant if polyphony was not developed.

• Written collections of music made it possible to access and continue the musical tradition of this period and its succeeding periods.

• Secularization would contribute to the massive expansion of music creation- we often forget where contemporary music derives from- not from the church but from the individual

Discussion Question

• How is our culture still aware of these music traditions today?

Discussion Question

• How is our culture still aware of these music traditions today?• Many European traditions would be brought over

including its religion• Gothic period music was still largely a part of the

religious tradition so it was one of the many art forms that were utilized by churches all over the world

• Classical music was derived from church music - continuation of polyphony in instrumental form

References

• Cunningham, Lawrence, and John J. Reich. Culture & Values: a Survey of the Humanities / Lawrence S. Cunningham, John J. Reich. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.

• http://www.classicalscore.com/gothicera.htm

• http://musiced.about.com/od/faqs/f/plainchant.htm