Medieval Era (Middle Ages)

1. Medieval Era (Middle Ages)

2. Time Period • 800-1450 AD • Time periods are marked by historical events • Music history begins here because that is when events started to be written down

3. Composers • Leonin and Perotin, Many anonymous composers

4. Famous Pieces • Since many were sacred and music was not widely written down, many pieces were untitled or named after the Catholic Mass • Example: Kyrie

5. Description of Music • Plainsong or Gregorian Chant (named after Pope Gregory) • Style of early Christian church • No instruments • No meter (unmeasured) • Monophonic – one-line music • Polyphony – two or more lines (850 AD) • Homophony – melody with same rhythmic accompaniment • Syllabic – One pitch per syllable (“Do, a deer, a female deer”) • Neumatic – 2 or 3 pitches per syllable • Mellismatic – Many pitches per syllable

6. Description Part 2 • Nuemes– First written notation in Europe • No key signatures • Cantus Firmus – Derived from Gregorian Chant • Double or Triple meter (in sets of two or three) • Symbolic of “Holy Trinity” • Mostly Latin text, sacred • Later came 3rd voice, bar lines, time signature, cleffs(more measurement and detail)

7. Historical Context • Italy, Paris, and France = center • Invention of musical staff • Started writing down music • 1000 AD • Schools of Music (1150-1175) • St. Martial and Notre Dame (Both in France) • Rise of secular (non-religious) music • Troubadors – Secular music groups (French) • Instruments added and polyphonic • 1100-1300 AD

8. Historical Context: The Culture • The culture • 2 centers of power: • Church • Monistraies and convents • The state (centralized government, kingdoms) • Peasant, Ruler, or Monk • Literary Figures • Dante’s “Divine Comedy” (Italy) • Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” (England)

9. Historical Context: Mass and Motet • Gregorian Chant • Non-metric, conjunct (connected), single line, connected • Notation – nuemes, 4 line stave • 3 styles of text • Syllabic • Mellismatic • Nuematic • Organization of mass in two categories • Proper and Ordinary • Notre Dame School in Paris (“Grand Lady”) • Development of polyphony • Musical notation • Two composers: Leonin and Perotin

10. Historical Context: Secular Music • Goliards – students of music • Jongleurs – wondering musicians • Troubadors – Wondering musicians (South France) • Trouvers – wondering musicians (North France) • Minnesingers – German musicians

11. Instruments • Sackbut (Modern day Trombone) • Lute (Recorder) • Harp • Violin • Crumhorn (Oboe)

12. Art in Middle Ages • With team, look up art work from Middle Ages and send it to me in an email • Kathleen_Kinion@scps.us • Then as a team, write down facts about the art work that you will present to the class on Friday • Try to relate this to music • Save your paper as you will add to it every day this week • 1s and 2s are researchers • 3s are the scribes (who can send email and write down presentation facts) • 4s are the leader who will lead the presentation on Friday (with help of team)

13. Composers in the Middle Ages • Find a composer from the Middle Ages. Once you find, tell Ms. Kinion and she will write it on the board. No repeats! If a team has already chosen their composer, you’ll have to find another one! • Kathleen_Kinion@scps.us • Write down facts about the composer and famous works • Describe the music and why he is important • Save your paper as you will add to it every day this week • 3s and 4s are researchers • 1s are the scribes (who can send email and write down presentation facts) • 2s are the leader who will lead the presentation on Friday (with help of team) • If someone is absent, divide up their responsibility

14. Middle Ages Instruments • Email instrument pictures to Ms. Kinion • Kathleen_Kinion@scps.us • Describe instrument. • If you can find a recording that you can show the class, you will get extra credit! • Present • Art work • Composer • Instruments today