Robert Slipkovich

U65949257

Music in Your Life

Essay 1: Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods

Music has been an integral subject throughout any time period. During the Middle Ages,

the Renaissance, and the Baroque periods, many advances and beautiful musical compositions

were created by composers that have stood the test of time. Political turmoil and government

changes have even influenced the musical output of each time period. Through any time period,

the people and achievements are what truly characterize the countless highlights that have been

established. From the Middle Ages to the Baroque era, a plethora of musical advances have

shaped not only there time periods, but also the music which we listen to today.

The Middle Ages (476-1450) had started with the decline of the Roman Empire

(Enjoyment 66). This time period has also been a very religious period and many religious

structures were also created. With religion, the famous crusades had also shaped Europe during

this period. In more of a musical context, a monophonic, single line melody had been created;

the Gregorian Chant (Enjoyment 69). This chant had its roots in a sacred setting and was popular

within the churches during this time. Various chants can fall into different classes including

neumatic, syllabic, and melismatic (Enjoyment 69). These classes shape the texture and sound

that is heard with a chant. The Middle Ages also saw a rise with women in music, such as

Hildegard of Bingen. Bingen’s piece, Alleluia, O Virga mediatrix, showed the advances that

women had made with music and how this time period was an era of change. Her chant follows

typical medieval context by showing devotion toward the Virgin Mary. This piece also

incorporates monophonic texture and a very basic musical structure; common for this time
period. As the book mentions, “…it [Bingen’s piece] does not draw on the existing repertory”

(Enjoyment 71). This statement portrays the music as being different and unique for the time

period, as well as creative.

Polyphony had also been introduced in this time period by incorporating two or more

melodic lines (Enjoyment 74). The early polyphony had been titled “organum” and included an

additional voice to the well known Gregorian Chant (Enjoyment 74). With polyphony came other

various compositions that pressed the Middle Age advancement with music. A piece from the

Notre Dame School Organum titled: Gaude Maria Virgo had reinforced the beauty and context

of polyphony. The piece follows Middle Age ideology and also has a sacred context. Similar to

Hildegard of Bingen’s piece, the Notre Dame School Organum created another composition in

honor of the Virgin Mary. The religious context had not been the only form of music, various

dance songs were also created and showed the enjoyment and happiness that the Middle Ages

brought. Throughout Europe, many dancers had joined in on the care-free music types and

brought different dance tunes to the period. France and Germany were just two of the most

popular regions where these dancers were from and their music had spread throughout Europe.

The sung dances were called “estampies” and they were secular and had a fast tempo attributed

to them (Enjoyment 77). The French were not only popular with dances during this time; the

chanson was also an important musical type for this period. Chansons followed a polyphonic

setting for the ordinary of mass (Enjoyment 80). This musical type had included voice and even

instrumentation to create a blend of music that was appealing during the Middle Ages. Various

instrumental groups had also been created in the period to accommodate the setting. Soft

instruments (lute, harp, hammered dulcimer) and loud instruments (crumhorn, sackbut, cornetto)
had created different musical groups based on the location that the music was to be played at

(Enjoyment 84).

The Middle Ages were a time of musical advances that were very prolific for the time.

Various religious compositions had impressed the sacred figures and icons during this time. The

incorporation of women into music had also been a great asset to this period. In general, the

Middle Ages may be looked at, historically, from the various world events that often damper the

musical advances for the period. However, the musical advances had created a framework which

was only refined throughout the Renaissance and into future time periods.

The next period of study would be the Renaissance. This period was an era of

“exploration, scientific inquiry, and artistic awakening” (Enjoyment 85). Learning and the arts

were just two of the most popular fields of importance during this era. Exploration had led to

many advances throughout the world and even included the travels of the famed Christopher

Columbus. Architecture and realism had redefined art and many surviving art relics were created

in the Renaissance (Enjoyment 86). Italy’s achievements with its artists and master-crafters had

given the world many creations that have rendered the definition of art. Overall, the arts and

people were the focus of this period, but music was also an important part of the Renaissance.

Musicians had gained employment throughout many fields and women were becoming

even more powerful in society (Enjoyment 87). The musical style of a cappella had been

introduced in this time and it included vocal work without any instruments (Enjoyment 87).

Another pivotal musical concept was introduced and was referred to as “word painting”. This

style of music attempted to use instrumentation to create “pictures” of what was happening. The

motet had also been used in this period as a sacred text that was used in religious services

(Enjoyment 90). An example of the motet can be discovered in Josquin’s “Ave Maria… virgo
serena”. This piece incorporated voices and textures to ultimately create a chant to the Virgin

Mary (similar to the Middle Ages musicians) (Enjoyment 91). Josquin had incorporated

homorhythmic settings within his piece to move all the voices together to create a better

sounding work (Enjoyment 91). This composition had been created in such a time when

humanism had been influencing musicians of Europe. Overall, Josquin’s music has highlighted

the important features of the Renaissance and how motets were refined as sacred pieces in music.

Renaissance music, as mentioned before, had also been religious based and many

composers had concentrated their compositions on the ordinary (Enjoyment 93). The other

portions of the mass are still of extreme importance, but were not as imperative to Renaissance

musical structure. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was a notable creator of many masses during

his time and created his “Pope Marcellus Mass, Gloria”. This piece followed Renaissance form

by being a cappella and incorporates a polyphonic setting in the end of piece (Enjoyment 97). On

the basis of secular music, many amateur and professional musicians had created compositions

during the Renaissance. Renaissance (prosperous) homes were now even containing various

instruments (Enjoyment 97). Like the Middle Ages, dance music was also popular in the

Renaissance. Rondes and other dances were popular with the citizens of this time. The musical

form of “chanson” also was a popular secular genre during this time (Enjoyment 98). From Italy

came the “madrigal” which was an aristocratic form of poetry (Enjoyment 100). This musical

style was developed extensively by the musician Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi incorporated

the Renaissance technique of word painting into his work and ultimately gave his work a

magnificent form of imagery.

The Renaissance period had blossomed from what the Middle Ages did not develop.

Europe was immersed in many musical concepts that defined the era as a whole. Women were
once again becoming more and more equal and popular during this time. Art and music were two

focal points in this period which truly embellished the name “Renaissance”. In the end, the

period was a time of invention and creativity which can easily be established with its music.

The next period of interest is known as the Baroque era. Fashioned from the Portuguese

word, barroco, meaning an irregular shaped pearl, this period gave rise to the middle class in

music (Enjoyment 116). The period showed how the citizens had reacted when they were placed

under an absolute monarchy. The citizens had created their own music forms and, if you will,

disassociated from the rulers of their countries in Europe. Like the Renaissance, this period was

full of discovery and advances. The mathematical legend, Descartes, had created countless

mathematical advances for his time, and Newton was experimenting with gravity (Enjoyment

118). Art was also an important facet during this period and a direct link to the Renaissance can

be clearly seen again. A new musical style was created and called “monody” which is a solo song

with instrumentals (Enjoyment 119). This Italian musical form had captivated the time period

and was the topic for many musical compositions. Opera was also a very important musical form

of the time. The basso continuo had been used as a harmonic device for musicians during this

time and it served as accompaniment (Enjoyment 121). The era gave way to dissonance and

imitative voice as well (Enjoyment 121). These and countless other musical achievements had

framed the Baroque period and its musical attributes. In opera, boys were castrated in order to

preserve their voices; these boys were known as “castratos” (Enjoyment 122). Opera had

spanned across Europe and had captivated listeners all over. Like the eras before, the Baroque

period had exemplified women even further in both society and music. Women had pivotal roles

in music and created many masterpieces. Other musical forms had also been used extensively in

this period.
 A notable musician for the time was George Frideric Handel. Handel was a master of

opera for his time and eventually created his famous “Messiah” (Enjoyment 128). Handel’s

music had incorporated attributes of various countries and other music types which would create

a beautiful masterpiece. Johann Sebastian Bach was another popular figure for the time. Bach

was born in Germany and had early piano work when he was in his youth. Bach went on to

create music in the Baroque period that has been unsurpassed. A popular piece by Bach was his

“Cantata No.80” (Enjoyment 137). This piece is a multi-movement piece with vocals and an

orchestra. Bach had incorporated many Baroque techniques into his piece and created a

melodious hymn (Enjoyment 137). Both composers followed popular techniques with music for

their time and are two pivotal figures of the Baroque period.

Popular forms of music in the Baroque period included the sonata and the concerto. Each

genre has many subdivisions but both are specific portions of the Baroque era. Another popular

figure was Antonio Vivaldi. His most notable composition, “The Four Seasons”, used word

painting of the Renaissance and ritornello form (Enjoyment 149). This piece is a violin concerto

with the violins used for the word painting to show each season. Another popular part of the

Baroque period were the orchestral and keyboard suites (Enjoyment 151). These musical

structures demonstrate the ability that musicians have when playing and also show beautiful

harmony when the musicians play together.

The Baroque era has assimilated the previous eras and incorporated its own touch to

create beautiful music. The musicians in this time period are household names in today’s world

and have had an everlasting impression. This music has paved a way for opera and orchestral

pieces which neither the Middle Ages or Renaissance had done. Overall, the Baroque period was

a time for musical genius and prowess.