1. Musical Time Periods/Musical Styles
7th Grade

2. Gregorian Chant (800-1100) 9-12th Century
1st type of music to have been notated in the 10th Century.
Full singing (plainchant) in a form of monophonic/Unison.
Chants were learned by word of mouth.
Originated from the Monastic Life (Monks).
Chanted 9 times a day during religious services.
Only sung by men and boys.

3. Medieval Period (1100-1400) 12-15th Century
Music was an integral part of everyday life, specially during festivities and celebrations. Very important for people of this era.
Cheery music/Folk music.
Instruments: recorders, horns, trumpets, whistles, bells, and drums
High pitched music used to awaken spring (hibernating animals) pagan belief.
Winter: Bells were used to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Music used during meals. A platform/stage was built in a great hall where people would sit and enjoy music as they ate their meals.

4. Middle Ages: Gregorian and Medieval
Melody: Predominant and step wise. Mostly Stepping notes. Unison/monophonic
Rhythm: No regular meter; based on text.
Harmony: Not present.
Timbre: Gregorian is mainly vocal/voices and Medieval some wind instruments are used and percussion. Music is not notated.
Form: Gregorian is Church music and Medieval music is very pagan, some religious, too.
Expressive Controls: Not indicated.

5. Rennaissance (1400-1600) 15-17th Century.
Time of rebirth: learning, science, and arts.
Inventions” Printing press and compass.
Melody: Based on church modes. More elegant and complex melodic lines.
Rhythm: Not very strong rhythmic feeling.
Harmony: Polyphony/ two or more lines played at the same time.
Timbre: Same as Medieval with more strings.
Form: Church music; dances.
Dynamics: There are contrast in dynamics.
Music was improvised/ made up on the spot.

6. Baroque Period (1600-1750) 17-18th Century
Music is more organized, expresses order. Written and not improvised.
Melody: Lively and tuneful, heavily ornamented.
Rhythm: Steady and driving rhythm.
Harmony: Established Major and minor key systems/Circle of fifths.
Beginning of classical music through the counterpoint and cannon.
Timbre: Developed new instruments and it was the beginning of an orchestra. Development of the string family.
Form: Operas, Cantatas, Oratorios, Sonatas, concertos, fugue, and cannon.
Expressive Controls: More dynamics used, emphasis on expression.

7. Classical Period
Melody: 4 to 8 measures long phrases and built on chord tones.
Rhythm: Consistent Rhythm and meter/time signatures
Harmony: more melodic and harmonic contrasts.
Timbre: Orchestra expanded in size, range and complexity. The establishment of the symphonic orchestra.
Form: Symphony, rondo-form, sonata allegro.
Expression controls: Expressed feelings and emotions. Balanced dynamics and clear articulation.

8. Romantic Period
Melodies: longer melodies and melodic ideas and musical themes.
Rhythm: Consisted meters and some mixed meters/ changed of time signature.
Harmony: Functional harmony, used of ½ steps in music / chromaticism.
Timbre: Expansion of orchestra. Explored new sounds and possibilities. More powerful instruments.
Form: Songs, program music, and the expansion of the symphony.
Expressive controls: Tempo changes, greater dynamic variation, and more crescendos.

9. Impressionism
Melody: use of the pentatonic scale and melodic fragments.
Rhythm: Unusual meters, avoiding the regular down beats.
Harmony: 7th and 9th chords.
Timbre: Delicate tone, harps, flutes, high strings were the favorite of this time.
Form: Development of short melodic fragment.
Expression controls: Dynamics tend to be quiet, freedom with tempos: very legato and smooth melodic lines.

10. Twentieth Century/Modern
Melody: Experiment with new ideas, return to church modes.
Rhythm: Variety of rhythms/polyrhythms.
Harmony: Chords built on the 4th and 5th . Linear harmony.
Timbre: electronic sounds and human sounds.
Form: Free form, tied loosely different motives/expression. Jazz, Ragtime, Rock, Latin music, etc…
Expressive Controls: Wide dynamic contrast.