Test 1

Explain how Charlemagne's use of music as a political tool contributed to the standardization of chant
and (eventually) notation practices.

After the succesful results of Charlemagne's estrategy of expansion of Roman Empire and his coronation
by pope III, Gregorian Chant and other forms of christian liturgy were imposed by him. The catholic rites
started to be included in churches and eventually evolved with the support of Pope Gregory I. Eventually,
gregorian chant was thought generation to generation in monasteries. One of the greatest contribution
of Charlemagne's emperor was the diffusion of Chruch music and the creation of music education
centers link to the catholic church such as the Schola Cantorum. The choral church music was
predominant in Schola Cantorum, the singers who accompanied had the support and sponsorship from
Charlemagne and popes.

Music theory was developed by Guido D'arezzo among other music teoricists who created a new systems
of music notation that helped to be more clear for the performer.

Using DuFay's Nuper rosarum flores as an example, explain how in the early 1400s musical practices
were changing into what would become known as the Renaissance style. How does Nuper rosarum
flores depart from medieval compositional practices? What medievalisms are retained?

DuFay's Nuper rosarum flores pretended to imitate the architecture of the Cathedral of Florence using
mathematical structures and schemes to evoke the cathedral throughout music. Dufay used numeral
patterns in its notation to demonstrate this. However the formula used by Dufay did not match with the
structure of the Cathedral. It also follows isorhytmic patterns in its voices, this means they repeat the
same values of rhythms in their melodies. This Motet is an example of Dufay's intention of unify Music
with other disciplines linked to the Architecture. Even beyond the scientific proportions Dufay sought a
sort of divine perfection, a symbolic representation of the unity of Virgin Maria and the Temple. Dufay's
motet evolved towards a new perspective that integrates other disciplines and even a metaphysical
cosmovision based on the liturgy. And this is why this motet goes beyond the basic form of chrstianism,
since Dufay wanted to articulate music with science. But of course, this music piece of the renaissance
retains some elements of the middle age such as religious texts from bible and schemes and convention
from the catholic liturgy.

Josquin's Ave Maria ... virgo serenaDownload Ave Maria ... virgo serena (ca. 1475) was the basis of
Antoine de Févin's Missa super Ave MariaDownload Missa super Ave Maria (1515). Referring to
specific elements of the scores, explain which compositional technique of the Renaissance Févin
employed in his Mass.

According to the score of Missa super Maria, the principal characteristic we can see in the score of the
Kyre is the use of poliphony, especially in a form canon. The first voice starts a melody and then a second
voices joins it, and eventually all voices sing together. Every single voice follows similar rhythm patterns.
We can notice a clear example of Counterpoint in Fevin's missa. Every voice posses some melodic
independence from each other, although he text is the same for all of them. Also, there is rhythmic
variety in each of its parts. In terms of intervalic relationship in the melody, it is evident that the usage of
thirds, sixths and this is something important to point out due to the difference established between the
renaissance and middle ages music where the use of thirds and sixths were not accepted. But even
more notorious is the free use of dissonances, there are strong dissonances like the seventh interval
between the voice of and Soprano and Contralto in the second half of the first beat of measure 27.
Obviously, there are more moments of dissonances en this kyrie but even though this kind of dissonance
treatment wouldbe somenthing normal at our tie, this is something that was not allowed in Music just a
few decades before.

Part 2. Short Answer.

Write 1-to-3 sentence definitions/descriptions of the following items. I'm not looking for long
descriptions, but I do want them to be thorough and specific. Be sure to address relevant places,
people, dates, compositions, etc.

Music of the Spheres

It refers to an ancient association given to the structures of music like intervals with the distance
between moon and planets. Pitagoras is considered one of the most important contribuitors of this
Theory.

Gregorian chant/plainchant

It is a composition technique based on the choral liturgy. It is one of the most primitive form of chant.
Voices sing in unison the same melody with no strict rhythm structures.

Church modes

Church modes have origins in greek music. They are called as follows: Ionian, Dorian, phrygian, Lydan,
Mixolidian, Aeolian and Locrian.

Neumes

It is the predecessor of the Guidonian notation. Thanks to Charlemagne's desire to difuse choral liturgic
music they existed. It is basically based on pitches and their rhythm values.
Guidonian notation

It is a more evolved and developed type of music notation. What we know now as music notation has its
origins in the figure of Guido D'arezzo who invented this system of music writting

Rhythmic modes

They are rythmic patterns used in the medieval music. Generally they were assigned to the tenor voice
as an accompaniment to the melody in the upper voice. They could be long rhythms of long or short
duration.

Franconian notation

It was a system of notation developed and created by Franco de Cologne in Paris. It established the
rhythmic values by the writting of different figures and shapes of notes. In the manuscripts composers
used to draw notes with colors depending on the values of te notes.

Ars Nova notation

It is a type of music notation developed in the 14th century. It is more specific in terms of lenght values
of the notes. It was a step closer to the notation we use nowadays

Troubadour/Trouvère/Trobairitz A type of singers who existed from the middle ages. They were
independent of the Church. Their songs usually tell stories

Minnesinger

A minnesingers was German lyric poet and singer between the 12th and 14th centuries, who performed
and composed love songs. It was the equivalent of a french troubadour.

Bar form

A bar form is a music structure that is commonly expressed as AAB and it was developed by
minnesingers and meistersingers in the songs

Isorhythm

Iso means same. Isorythm: same rhythm. This was a technique of composition develope in the 14th
century french polyphony that used the term of talea to refer to melodic patterns repeated during a
composition.

Organum

A composition technique based on a plainchant melody that is harmozed by at least one more voice. It is
generally supported by a bourdon (bass line) and another voice that can be in parallel motion

Clausula
It is a section of discant that were usually sung for two or more voices in the 13th century.

Motet

It is a polyphonic musical style developed from the 13th and 14th centuries until the present. It was
usually written for a religious text It used to be performed for 4 voices a capella. Its structure is based on
a ABA form. Inits primitive form, a motet could be written in latin or vernacular language.

Ars Nova

It refers to a new musical movement developed in the 14th century of the middle ages. New forms of
notation were created and music repertoire varied more then in the 13th century. Troubadours,
minnesingers were important in this period. Music was not necesarily link to the church

Contenance angloise

An English music style developed in the 15th century by the important figure of John Dunstaple. The
main characteristic of this style is the usage of thirds and sixths in the compositions.

Cantus firmus

It is a composition technique used in the gragorian chant. Basically is a simple melody, generally its
rhythm is in long notes and it is the guide of a composition. Eventually it became part of the method of
counterpoint courses.

Paraphrase

It could be part of a mass or a plainsong. Generally speaking it takes subjects, melodies or materials from
another music works to be used in other compositions.

Parody/Imitation

It is part of a mass in the style of 16th cntury. It takes fragments from anoother pre-existing pieces of
music, from motet or secular songs.

Reformation/Catholic Reformation

It took place in Trent, it is also know as Council of Trent and Its objectives were to define Catholic
doctrine and discipline its members by condemning the Protestant Reformation, considered by the Holy
See to be heresy.