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• Music played a very prominent role in the Church
• Gregorian Chant was still used, but there were more
instances of Polyphonic music being written
• Polyphonic Music included:
– Movements of the Mass
– Motets
– Hymns
• All of the music was in a Vocal setting, and almost
exclusively based on preexisting music.
Composer Highlight – Composer Highlight – Composer Highlight – Composer Highlight
• Kyrie
• Gloria
• Credo
• Sanctus (and Benedictus)
• Agnus Dei
• In Greek
– Dates back to the earliest days of
Christianity
• 3 part format
– ABA (like twinkle twinkle)
– Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie
Eleison
• Text: “Glory to God on High”
• Described as a “joyful hymn of praise”
• Confession of faith
• Longest movement of the mass
• A song of Praise
• Concludes with the “Hosanna”
• Sung three times with a different
concluding text
• Early settings of the Mass (such as the
Medieval Organum) were based on a
fragment of Gregorian chant
– This became known as a Cantus Firmus
• The Cantus Firmus was the foundation of
the piece of music
• Served as a fixed element upon which
composers could embellish the melody
Composer Highlight – Composer Highlight – Composer Highlight – Composer Highlight