 Most important musicians were priests that worked for the church  Boys received music education in schools, while girls were not allowed to sing in church but did make music in convents  Most medieval music was vocal; instruments were used but were frowned on by the church  After 1100, instruments were increasing in the church; the organ was most used  (Could be heard for miles)

 Throughout the period the clergy complained about the noisy instruments  Instruments were also the source of conflict between composers

 Official music of the Roman Catholic church for 1000 years  Melody set to sacred Latin texts and sung without accompaniment  Meant to emphasize specific parts of the religious service  Named after Pope Gregory I (the Great)  Most of the several thousand melodies known today were created between  Most of the composers of these chants remain almost completely unknown

 Scales that consist of seven different tones and an 8 th tone that duplicates the 1 st an octave higher  Used in secular and sacred music  Alleluia: Vidimus Stellam (Listen) 1,48

 Music outside of the church  French nobles called troubadours and trouveres  Knights also gained reputations as musical poets  Love songs, crusades, dance songs, spinning  Wandering minstrels- performed music and acrobatics in castles, taverns, and town squares A. Lowest in social level with prostitutes and slaves, but important source for information

 Medieval dance and one of the earliest forms of instrumental music (Listen) 1,52  Instruments: 1. Rebec- bowed string instrument 2. Pipe- tubular wind instrument 3. Psaltery- plucked or struck string instrument

 first steps were taken that eventually transformed western music  Monks began to add a second melodic line to the Gregorian chants  Improvised in the beginning (not written down)  Medieval music consisting of a Gregorian chant and 1 or more additional melodic lines is called organum.

 Hundred Years War  Plaque (black death)  Weakening of the Catholic church  Secular music became more important than sacred music  New system of music notation had evolved, composers could specify almost any rhythmic pattern  Syncopation- rarely used before but very popular during this time

 Both a musician and a poet  Known for the Notre Dame Mass – one of the finest compositions known from the Middle Ages  The first polyphonic treatment of the mass ordinary by a known composer  Mass ordinary- 5 sung prayers that remained the same from day to day throughout the church year  Listen (Agnus Dei) 1,53

 In keeping with the ideals of the era, every educated person was expected to be trained in music.  Women were mostly virtuoso singers during this time especially in Italy in the late Renaissance  Virtuoso- performing artist of extraordinary technical mastery  Musicians during the Renaissance enjoyed higher pay and status  Composers also wanted to be known and given credit for their work

 Italy- leading music center in the 16 th century  Others- Germany, England, and Spain

 Middle Ages- vocal music more important  Renaissance- composers wrote music to enhance the meaning of the words  Word painting- musical representation of specific poetic images  Ex. Descending from heaven (descending melodic line), running (series of rapid notes)

 Mostly polyphonic  Renaissance music sounds fuller than medieval music (bass register was used for the first time)= richer harmonies

 Unaccompanied choral music- a cappella

 2 main forms:  Motet and mass  Motet- polyphonic choral work set to sacred Latin text (not ordinary mass)  Mass- polyphonic choral composition made up of 5 sections: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei

 Master of Renaissance music  Compositions include masses, motets, and secular vocal pieces  Ex. Ave Maria…Virgo Serena 1475 (Listen) 1,56

 Became increasingly popular  Development of music printing helped spread secular music and made thousands of songs available  Every educated person was expected to play an instrument and read music  Composers imitated natural sounds such as bird calls and street cries  More rapid shifts of mood than sacred music

 A piece for several solo voices set to a short love poem  Thomas Weelkes- among the finest English madrigalists  Ex. As Vesta Was Descending (1601) written to honor Queen Elizabeth (Listen) 1,59

 Popular instruments in the 1500’s:  Harpsichord  Organ  Lute- versatile plucked string instrument with the body in the shape of a pear  1600’s instrumental music was written more for the instruments themselves and played for dancing and entertainment  Every educated person was also expected to be skilled in dance

 Recorders  Shawms  Cornetts  Sackbuts  Lutes  Violas  Organs  Regals  Harpsichords