music

Vocal and Instrumental Music of Medieval,

Renaissance and Baroque Periods

MUSIC OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (700-1400)

The Medieval period was also known as Middle Ages or “Dark Ages” which started with the fall of the Roman Empire.
During this era, the Christian Church was greatly influenced by Europe’s culture and political affairs.

A monophonic plainchant known as Gregorian Chant was named after Pope Gregory I, who made this an approved
music of the Catholic Church. Pope Gregory’s action made these monophonic plainchants popular during the period.

MUSIC OF THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD (1400 – 1600)

TThe term Renaissance came from the word renaitre which means “rebirth”,“revival”, and “rediscovery”.

With the emergence of the bourgeois class, renaissance music became more popular as entertainment and activity for
amateurs and the educated.

Though sacred music was still of great importance, secular music became more popular in this period. Renaissance
period was also known as the “golden age” of a capella choral music.

MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE PERIOD (1685 – 1750)

The Composers during this period were George Friedrich Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, and
Antonio Vivaldi

During this time, the arts highlighted grandiose and elaborate ornamentation which were clearly seen in the musical
compositions created by Baroque composers.

New instrumental techniques, changes in musical notation and the major and minor tonality were also applied in this
era. A lot of the musical terms and concepts that evolved in this era are still used in music of today.

Summary
A type of music from the Medieval Era is Gregorian Chant, which was mainly used in the early Christian
church.

Music during the Renaissance Period became an important leisure activity. Members of the upper class were
expected to have received musical training. Imitative polyphony is the distinctive characteristic of Renaissance
music.

The Baroque Period is characterized by grand and elaborate ornamentation of sculptures, theaters, arts and
music. The music genres which flourished during the Baroque Period were the Concerto, the Fugue, the
Oratorio and the Chorale.

Music evolved alongside with man’s constant quest for growth and development.
 Famous composer during the Medieval Period
1. Adam de la Halle

Adam de la Halle was also known as Adam le Bossu (Adam the His works include:
Hunchback). He was the son of a well – known citizen of Arras, Henri Le Jue De Robin Et De Marion
de la Halle. Adam was destined for the church but he eventually La Chanson Du Riu De Sicile
married. He was a trouvére, poet and musician, whose literary and
musical works include chansons and jeuxpartis (poetic debates) in
the style of the trouveres, polyphonic rondel and motets in the style
of early liturgical polyphony. His musical play, ―Jeu de Robin et
Marionǁ was considered the earliest surviving secular French play
with music.

Famous composer of the Renaissance Period

1. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

He was the greatest master of Roman Catholic Church music where His works include:
majority of his compositions are sacred music and has a keen Opening song Kyrie (Excerpt
interest in satisfying the desires of church leaders in the 16th century. from “Pope Marcellus” Mass)
Palestrina’s Pope Marcellus mass is the perfect example of the
counter-reformation style. He received his early training and spent
majority of his career in various churches in Rome including Pope’s
Chapel.

2. Thomas Morley

Morley was born in Norwich, East England, the son of a brewer. He His works includes:
was a singer in the local cathedral from his boyhood, and he Fire, Fire, Fire My Heart
became master of choristers there in 1583. Thomas Morley was the Sing and Chant It
most famous composer of secular music in his time. Fantasie
April is in my Mistress Face
It Was a Lover and His Lass

Famous Composers of the Baroque Period

1. George Friedrich Handel

Handel became England’s favorite composer. He had given English His works include:
audiences music that in variety and interest rivalled anything they The Messiah “Hallelujah
could remember. Chorus”

2. Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach was a religious man. His personal and deep faith is shown in His works include:
his sacred music. He was known for his compositions for organ, Concerto Grosso
orchestra, and oratorio. His most important and long – term position Masses
was as ―cantor” at St. Thomas Church. Cantatas
Fuques

3. Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nickn ilPrete Rosso ("The His works include:
Red Priest") because of his red hair. His influence during his lifetime The Four Seasons
was widespread over Europe. Vivaldi is known mainly for composing
instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as sacred
choral works and over forty operas.
 Arts

Vocal and Instrumental Music of Medieval,

Renaissance and Baroque Periods

PRE-HISTORIC ERA
Paintings were found inside the caves and believed to be their way of communicating each other. It may also be for
religious or for ceremonial purposes and more of an artefact of the archaeological evidence than a true picture of
human’s first created art. Pre-historic drawing showed animals that were usually correct in proportion.

Sculptures were believed to be a product or result of natural erosion and not of human artistry according to
archaeologists. Materials used in sculptures vary according to region and locality while carving may have
mythological or religious significance

Architectures from the early age developed a form based on Megaliths (a big rock) from the Greek word lithos
(stone) and megas (big). Although these structures that survived from prehistory might not be what we would
normally think of as architecture, but these buildings still inspire awe today, through the mysteries of their meaning,
the intricacy or scale of their design, or the ingenuity of their construction.

PRE-HISTORIC ERA
Paintings were believed to make the deceased life place pleasant giving importance of life after death and the
preservation of the knowledge of the past. Most paintings were stylized, symbolic and shows profile view of an
animal or a person with themes that included the journey of the deceased gods to the underworld. The main colours
used in this period were red, black, blue, gold and green derived from mineral pigments that can withstand strong
sunlight without fading.

Sculptures were believed to have symbolic elements such as forms, hieroglyphics, relative size, location, materials,
colour, actions and gestures were widely used. Their tombs required the most extensive use of sculpture.
Characteristics includes; symbolism to represent the gods where composite creature with animal heads on human
body, relief compositions were arranged in horizontal lines to record an event or represent an action, most of the
time the gods were shown larger than humans. The kings are larger than the followers and the dead larger than the
living, empty spaces were filled with figures or hieroglyphics and all individual components were all brought to the
plane of representation and laid out like writing.

Architectures were developed during the pre-dynastic period of 4,000 BC. Characteristics of Egyptian Architecture
includes; thick sloping walls with few openings to obtain stability, exterior and interior walls along with the columns
and piers were covered with hieroglyphics and pictorial frescoes with carvings painted in brilliant colours,
ornamentations were symbolic like scarab (sacred beetle), solar disk, vulture and common motifs such as palm
leaves, buds, lotus flower and papyrus plants and temples were aligned with astronomically significant events with
precise measurements like solstices (sun appears to stand still on the first day of winter) and equinox (a time or date
when day and night are of equal length).

CLASSICAL GREEK
Paintings during this period were most commonly found in vases, panels and tomb. They depict natural figures with
dynamic compositions and reveal a grasp of linear perspective and naturalistic representation. Most of the subjects
were battle scenes, mythological figures and everyday scenes. Most common methods of Greek painting are Fresco
or water based painting and Encaustic or wax based painting.
culptures were tensed and stiff and their bodies were hidden within enfolding robes or draping during the early
times but it had finally evolved and showed all the points of human anatomy and proportion after three centuries of
experiments.

Architectures showed temples consisting of a central shrine or room in an aisle surrounded by rows and columns.
These buildings were designed in one of three architectural style or orders; Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.

ROMAN ERA
Paintings were found inside the caves and believed to be their way of communicating each other. It may also be for
religious or for ceremonial purposes and more of an artefact of the archaeological evidence than a true picture of
human’s first created art. Pre-historic drawing showed animals that were usually correct in proportion.

Sculptures were believed to be a product or result of natural erosion and not of human artistry according to
archaeologists. Materials used in sculptures vary according to region and locality while carving may have
mythological or religious significance

Architectures from the early age developed a form based on Megaliths (a big rock) from the Greek word lithos
(stone) and megas (big). Although these structures that survived from prehistory might not be what we would
normally think of as architecture, but these buildings still inspire awe today, through the mysteries of their meaning,
the intricacy or scale of their design, or the ingenuity of their construction.

PRE-HISTORIC ERA
Paintings were found inside the caves and believed to be their way of communicating each other. It may also be for
religious or for ceremonial purposes and more of an artefact of the archaeological evidence than a true picture of
human’s first created art. Pre-historic drawing showed animals that were usually correct in proportion.

Sculptures were believed to be a product or result of natural erosion and not of human artistry according to
archaeologists. Materials used in sculptures vary according to region and locality while carving may have
mythological or religious significance

Architectures from the early age developed a form based on Megaliths (a big rock) from the Greek word lithos
(stone) and megas (big). Although these structures that survived from prehistory might not be what we would
normally think of as architecture, but these buildings still inspire awe today, through the mysteries of their meaning,
the intricacy or scale of their design, or the ingenuity of their construction.