Music History: Medieval and Renaissance Periods Chapter 17

The Foundations of Western Classical Music Music is classified into six historical periods: Medieval: 450-1450 Renaissance: 1450-1600 Baroque: 1600-1759 Classical: 1750-1825 Romantic: 1825-1900 Modern: 1900-Present

The Medieval Period 450-1450 Medieval has two categories of music: Though music has roots that can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, the earliest surviving classical music was from the Middle Ages. Medieval has two categories of music: Sacred Music: Music of the church Secular Music: Non-religious music

Medieval Sacred Music During this era of time, the church assumed a leadership role in most fields, from politics to the arts. Types of early church music: plainsong: music with no strict meter or accompaniment, sung by a single voice or unison choir. parallel organum: a compositional technique where two voice parts sing the same melody a perfect fourth or fifth apart from one another. Listen #1

Development of Musical Notation There are two ways to learn how to perform a composition: by rote: passing down music orally by a score: written notation In early medieval times, music was learned by rote. The first attempt at notation was in the form of neumes. neumes: markings over or under musical texts to signal pitch changes.

Example of neumes notation Lets make neumes!

The Rise of Secular Music Secular music was used for social activities outside of the church. Biggest difference: sacred music was a capella, secular was with instruments. Poet-musicians called troubadours composed music and poetry that told stories of the news or of love. They entertained in the palaces of royalty. Listen #2

The Renaissance (1450-1600) Renaissance: a rebirth and revival of human creativity. The movement began in Italy and spread its way upward throughout Europe. Transitioned from the medieval world to the modern world. Though power still lied in the church, secularism began to take over. Great minds of the period: Leonardo de Vinci, Michaleangelo, and Raphael. What about Donotello?

Music of the Renaissance Secular music began assuming the same level of popularity as sacred music. Two main styles of music: Motets: polyphonic choral compositions based on sacred texts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mdmco61Ht k Madrigals: nonreligious vocal works in several parts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciIvhB-zTfc

Musical Textures of Medieval and Renaissance Periods Medieval music was monophonic, meaning that there is only one melodic line with no accompaniment. Renaissance music was primarily polyphonic, which is a texture with independent melodies that are combined. Go back and listen.

Instrumental Music The Renaissance put an emphasis on instrumental music. Instruments no longer were used to simply support voices, they now had their own part. Instruments of the period Shawm (like and oboe) Krummhorn (like a recorder) Listen #4

Sacred music of the Renaissance The two main forms of sacred music during the Renaissance period were the motet and the mass. The mass Uses latin texts (like motets) Five-section extended work (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei) Uses counterpoint (like madrigals) but with sacred texts. Listen #6