UNIT 1

Music of the Medieval, Renaisance

and Baroque Period
 Music comes from the Greek work
Mousikos relative to Muses which are figures
derived from the Greek and Roman mythology. In
Greek, it is referred to a techne which means
technique. It did not indicate a particular art, but all
the arts of the muses are referred to something
that is “perfect”. It is an expensive medium as old
as humanity.
The Music of the
Medieval Period
Lesson 1
 Medieval Period
• also known as the Middle Ages, is a
period from 700 to 1450.
• With the support of the Roman Catholic
church, music during this period was
organized according to the needs of the
liturgical services with Latin as the text.
Since the ninth century, composers Secular music gave ways
have written music based on what they to the music of the
call Chant. troubadours, trouveres,
• Major developments during this period jongleurs, and
include the rise of sacred music called minnesingers.
Gregorian Chant and towards the latter
part, secular songs.
Chant
is a song, melody or something repeated over and
over again. An example of a chant is a simple church
hymn.
Gregorian Chant
liturgical music of the Roman Catholic Church, used
to accompany the text of the mass and the canonical hours,
or divine office.
 Purpose of Music
• In the traitional societies, rituals
and music are interconnected.
• Ancient civilization were
associated with rituals and
music during the earlier times
were transmitted through what
we call oral tradition.
• Written notation in music
started during the Medieval time
and made an impact in the
development of music.
 Evolution of Western Music
Notation
• Musicians during the early period work only for the
church.
• Middle Ages brought us the Gregorian Chant, a
monophonic liturgical music, until the 1000s.
• It also referred to as plainchants, plain song, or monody.
• Few authentic examples of secular music were collected
because all writings were done by monks whose main
purpose is to record sacred music during that time.
• Music is an integral part of human existence. From the
early years to the present, researchers discovered that
music has a therapeutic effect to listeners.
• Religious and Christian songs can evoke a powerful,
spiritual, emotion among listeners. Thus, it can lift one’s
spirit and soothe one’s soul.
 Vocal Music
Plain song or chant
• is a monophonic melody that uses sacred text.
• monophonic melody consisting of a single
musical line, without accompaniment
 Characteritics of Gregorian
Chants

• Monophonic or unison- consisting of a single

musical line, without accompaniment.
• Free meter- the music does not divide into a regular
pattern of strong and weak beats
• Latin Liturgy- is a large family of liturgical rites
and uses of public worship employed by the Latin
Church
 Towards the Middle Ages, a struggle in conflict
with the church and state was witnessed. Musicians
emerged for secular music and call themselves as
Minstrels. They are four different types of Minstrels:
1. Jongleurs- they are entertainers who travels all over
Europe bringing with them troupes such as musicians,
jugglers, acrobats and dancers.
2. Troubadours- they are poet musicians of a superior
class from southern France.
3. Trouveres- they came about 50 years after the
Troubadours but from the central and northern France.
4. Minnesingers- they are German equivalent of the
Troubadours. Frauenlob was one of the best-known
Minnesingers.
Characteristics of a Troubadours Music:
• Usually, monophonic
• Tells of bravery and courtly love
• Originated in France
Instrumental Music
• since monophonic music is the
primary structure of Medieval
music, instrument became
secondary as an
accompaniment to the dance
and musical notation.
Keyboard
• is a musical instrument played
using a keyboard, a row of
levers which are pressed by the
fingers. The most common of
these are the piano, organ, and
various electronic keyboards,
including synthesizers and
digital pianos.
 Clavicytherium is a harpsichord in
which the soundboard and strings are
mounted vertically facing the player. The
primary purpose of making a harpsichord
vertical is the same as in the later upright
piano, namely, to save floor space.
According to writings from the
time, we read that the most important
keyboard instruments were:
• clavicytherium
• clavisimbalum
• clavichord
• organetto

Clavicymbalum (or clavisymbalum,

clavisimbalum, etc.) is an early
keyboard instrument and ancestor of
the harpsichord.
Strings
• is a musical instrument that produces sound by means
of vibrating strings. The most common string
instruments in the string family are guitar, electric
bass, violin, viola, cello, double bass, banjo,
mandolin, ukulele, and harp.
 Composers in Medieval
Period
Adam de la Halle (1245-1306)
• He was known as the greatest and the
last of the trouveres.
• Adam was described as a “Master of
Music” and had produced a
remarkably useful body of works.
• The most famous of his plays is the Le
Jeu de Robin et de Marion (The play
about Robin and Marion).
• It contains the most music in which
spoken dialogue combined with songs.
• It was first Naples court where he was
working.
 Musical Works

Chansons 36

Jeux Partis 18

Rondeux (Dance song) 16

Motet 5

Plays 3

Total 78+
Hildegard Von Bingen OSB (1098
September 7, 1179)
“Sibyl of Rhine, Saint Hildegard”
• was a remarkable woman, a first
in many field.
• She was a poet, author,
philosopher, theologian, singer,
musician, composer, playwright,
artist, architect, biographer,
doctor, botanist, herbalist,
visionary, preacher, seer, prophet,
and a saint.