Module 3 – The Middle Ages and Renaissance

Music Appreciation Module 3 – The Middle Ages and Renaissance (Text Book: Part Two, Chapters 1 & 2) Middle Ages (450-1450) Time Line - Rome sacked by Vandals—455 - Beowulf—c. 700 - First Crusade—1066 - Black Death (Bubonic Plague)—1347-52 - Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales – 1387-1400 - Joan of Arc executed by English—1431 • The early years were a time of migrations, upheavals & wars. • The later years were a period of cultural growth that lead to the Renaissance. Society in The Middle Ages Three Distinct Classes of Society: Nobility- sheltered in fortified castles; knights in armor; amused themselves with hunting, feasting & tournaments Peasants- vast majority of population; lived miserably; subject to feudal overlords Clergy- Roman Catholic church exerted power; monks held a virtual monopoly on learning Music in the Middle Ages • The Roman Church was the center of musical life. - The most important musicians were priests. - Women were not allowed to sing in church, but did make music in convents. - Only sacred music was notated by the Church. • Music was primarily vocal and sacred. Notre Dame Cathedral - Instruments not used in church - Music manuscripts did not indicate tempo, dynamics or rhythm. - Written using church modes – an early type of scale. Medieval Notation An Overview of the Development of Notation Listening Activity: Sacred Music Gregorian Chant - a melody set to sacred Latin texts sung with no accompaniment Alleluia: Vidimus stellam (We Have Seen His Star) Vocal Music Guide: p. 70 - Gregorian Chant - Latin - Monophonic texture - Ternary form: A B A Listening Activity: Sacred Music O successores (You successors) Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) Vocal Music Guide: p. 72 Chant - Originally written without accompaniment - This recording includes a drone—long, sustained notes - Written for nuns by a nun (sung in a convent) Middle Ages - Secular Music • The earliest songs written in decipherable notation were composed by French nobles who were poetmusicians. - Troubadours (southern France) - Trouvères (northern France) • Performed by jongleurs (traveling minstrels) • Song topics include: love, The Crusades, dancing, spinning songs • Instrumental dances were also written. Listening Activity: Medieval Secular Music Estampie – a Medieval Dance • • • • Medieval dance music Strong beat (for dancing) Single melody line is notated Performers improvised instrumental accompaniment p. 75 • In this version the melody is played by a pipe and rebec, and the accompaniment is played by the psaltery. (See the next slide.) Middle Ages - Instruments Rebec – a string instrument Pipe – a tubular played with a bow. wind instrument Psaltery – a plucked or struck string instrument The Development of Polyphony: Organum Organum - earliest form of polyphonic music - consists of a chant melody with a second musical line added to it. School of Notre Dame : Measured Rhythm - Paris became the center of polyphonic music Leonin & Perotin - two successive choir masters - developed notation of precise rhythms - the first time notation indicated precise rhythm (measured rhythm) Fourteenth Century Ars Nova or New Art • Profound changes in musical style and society. • Literary works stressed sensuality more than virtue. • Secular music more important than sacred • New music notation system evolved • Syncopation became an important rhythmic practice Listening Activity: 14th Century Secular Music Puis qu en oubli sui de vous (Since I am forgotten by you; around 1363) by Guillaume de Machaut Vocal Music Guide: p. 79 -Vocal Melody accompanied by two lower parts - Uses Syncopation The Mass Ordinary refers to a set of prayers that remain constant throughout the year in the Roman Catholic service (Mass). These texts have been set to music throughout the centuries. Guillaume de Machautmost famous composer of the Ars Nova (14th century) • Notre Dame Mass -one of the finest compositions of the 14th century -first polyphonic treatment of the Mass by a known composer Listening Activity: Mid-14th Century Sacred Music Agnus Dei from Notre Dame Mass by Guillaume de Machaut Vocal Music Guide: p. 80 - Polyphonic; triple meter; syncopation - Ternary form The Renaissance (1450-1600) Time Line - Guttenberg Bible (first book printed on a movable type printing press)—1456 - Columbus reaches America—1492 - Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa—c. 1503 - Martin Luther s 95 theses—1517 - Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet—1596 The Renaissance Rebirth of human creativity • Renaissance literally means rebirth . • Time of exploration & adventure Columbus, da Gama and Magellan • Age of curiosity & individualism Leonardo da Vinci • Intellectual Movement – Humanism • Catholic Church far less powerful • Education became a status symbol for the aristocracy & upper middle class. • The invention of printing increased literacy and widened the circulation of music. • Every educated person was expected to read music, play an instrument and be skilled in dancing. • Musicians worked in churches & courts. • Italy became the leading music center. Characteristics of Renaissance Music • Vocal Music - more important than instrumental music - golden age of a cappela choral music - Composers utilized word painting. (music and words closely related) - Polyphonic texture – vocal imitation Sacred Music in the Renaissance: motet - sacred; Latin polyphonic choral work (not part of the Mass Ordinary) Mass – sacred; the Catholic worship service à Refer to Music Fundamentals Review: A cappella Listening Activity: Renaissance Motet Ave Maria…virgo serena (1475) by Josquin Desprez Josquin Deprez - known as the father of musicians - well-respected by Martin Luther Vocal Music Guide: p. 83-84 - Four voice motet -Polyphonic imitation -Overlapping voice parts Listening Activity: Renaissance Mass Kyrie from Pope Marcellus Mass (1562-63) by Palestrina (1525 – 1594) Vocal Music Guide: p. 87 - Polyphonic Texture – six voices - Vocal imitation - Model for other Mass composers Palestrina - one of the most important Renaissance composers - greatly refined the techniques of polyphony - still studied today Secular Music of the Renaissance - Music was an important leisure activity. - People were expected to play a musical instrument and read notation. Secular Vocal Music of the Renaissance Madrigal madrigal - a piece for several solo voices set to a short poem usually about love • employs word painting • originated in Italy around 1520 • brought to England 1588 Listening Activity: Renaissance Madrigal As Vesta was Descending (1601) by Thomas Weelkes Vocal Music Guide: p. 89 Listen for text painting: - on ascending - on descending - running down - Two by two, three by three, all alone Listening Activity: Renaissance Lute Song Flow My Tears (about 1600) by John Dowland (1563 – 1626) Vocal Music Guide: p. 92 - popular Lute Song - melancholy Renaissance Instrumental Music • still subordinate to vocal music • Instrumentalists accompanied vocalists. • becoming more popular • more music being written specifically for instruments • exact instruments not specified in the music by the composer End of the first half of Module 3! You are now ready to take the first two quizzes in Module 3! See the M3 Overview Page and the M3 Study Guide.