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