Musical Genre during

Medieval period
Reporter:
Adrian F. Dimatatac
BEED – 1

1st Semester 2022 - 2023

 Medieval Music

• Medieval music is classified as

music composed and performed
in the Middle Ages until the
Renaissance.
Characteristics of
Medieval Music
 Medieval Music
• 1. Monophony - ‘Monophony’ refers to
the simplest musical texture, it
comprises melody that is generally sung
or played by a single instrument without
any accompaniments.
 Medieval Music
• Example of Monophony
• https://youtu.be/X6vkzbSPbnc
 Medieval Music
• 2. Rhythmic Modes - The
rhythmic modes were set
patterns of long and short
durations (or rhythms).
Medieval Music
 Medieval Music
• 3. Music Notation - musical
notation is a series of symbols
and markings that inform
musicians how to perform a
composition.
Medieval Music
 Medieval Music
• 4. Vocal Music - Vocal music
typically refers to any song
whose vocals are the main focal
point of the track. It can include
a solo voice, chorus, duets, and
more complex combinations.
 Medieval Music
• Example of Vocal Music
• https://youtu.be/V1fifo3zcXU
 Medieval Music
• 5. Polyphony - Polyphony is a
musical texture that features
two or more melodic lines
played at the same time.
 Medieval Music
• Example of Polyphony
• https://youtu.be/dC34cajGG4U
 Medieval Music
• 6. Troubadours and Trouvères - Troubadours and trouvères are
basically traveling musicians or poet-musicians that came either from
the south of France or were usually from a noble class. They brought
lutes, psalteries, and other Medieval instruments during their travels.
And, when they sang they’ve accompanied it with instruments.
 Medieval Music
• Example of Troubadours and Trouvères
song
• Love song
• https://youtu.be/Xk1W22yHLJQ
Instruments Used In
Medieval Music
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• 1. Flute: Instead of being made of

metal, they were made of wood and
were either side-blown or end-blown.
They had holes that needed to be
covered by the performer with their
fingers as they did not have any
complex key mechanisms or airtight
pads.
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• Flute
 Medieval Instrument
• Example of Flute
• https://youtu.be/enFuHaU8H5w
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• 2. Gemshorn: The gemshorn is

the only medieval flute with a
sharply tapering conical bore. Its
shape is determined naturally
since it is made from the horn of a
chamois or ox.
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• Gemshorn
 Medieval Instrument
• Example of Gemshorn
• https://youtu.be/5aM5Az4JMZ4
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• 3. Recorder: The recorder is a

family of woodwind musical
instruments and it is a simple
instrument related to the flute; it is
sounded by blowing into one end
and the pitch is adjusted by
covering finger holes.
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• Recorder
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• 4. Harp: The harp is one of the most ancient types

of stringed instruments. It was important in pre-
Christian cultures and still survives today in many
forms all over the world. Harps use open strings
exclusively, thus the range of each is determined
by the number of strings. In the Middle Ages strings
were made from twisted animal gut (usually from
sheep), although horse hair and even silk were
used as well.
 Instruments Used In Medieval Music

• Harp
Medieval Composers
 Medieval Composers
• 1. Léonin: Léonin was a French composer
famous for pioneering polyphonic composition
in the style known as organum.
 Medieval Composers
• Example: Leonin Pascha Nostrum
Organum Duplum Partitura
Interpretación
• https://youtu.be/ngCRm7uLirA
 Medieval Composers
• 2. Pérotin: French composer of sacred
polyphonic music, who is believed to have
introduced the composition of polyphony in
four parts into Western music.
 Medieval Composers
• Example: Viderunt
• https://youtu.be/3oaRM1uDsw8
 Medieval Composers
• 3. Hildegard von Bingen: Von Bingen was a rare Medieval
female composer. Based in Germany, she composed
monophonic chants for the twelfth-century Catholic church. She
specialized in music for women's voices.
 Medieval Composers
• Example: Ordo virtutum
• https://youtu.be/wGPZWUNwLG0