Middle Ages

Early Middle Ages (476-1000

A.D.)
Center Power:
1. Church
2. State
Church as the Patron
Enlargement of Monasteries
Most of the people illiterate except the
monk/bishops

Hildegard of Bingen

Late Middle Ages (10001400)

Buildings of Cathedral and Universities

Development of National Literature
Age of Knighthood
Slight raise of womens status

Sacred Music in the Middle

Ages
1. Organum
2. Notre Dame School
Religious Music:
1. (Gregorian) Chant
2. Mass (Proper and Ordinary)
3. Motet

Terms:
Chant
Neumes
Text Settings
Melismatic
Syllabic
Modes
Gradual
Responsorial singing
Rhythmic Mode
Ostinato

Leonin and Perotin

Secular Music in the Middle

Ages
Medieval minstrel (troubadours and

trouveres)
Function: part of Medieval court life, supply
the necessary accompaniment for dancing,
dinner, and after-dinner entertainment
Courtly poetry

Guillaume de Machaut
Ars Nova
Ars Antiqua
Isorhythmic

Early Instruments and Instrumental

Music
Improvised Music
Soft instruments (e.g. recorder, lute, harp,
psaltery)

Loud instruments (e.g. shawm, slide trumpet,

sackbut, tabor, nakers)

Organs
Saltarello
Embellishment