Download General Music Notes – Music History Unit – part 1 (Medieval

General Music Notes – Music History Unit – part 1 (Medieval – Classical)
The Medieval Period (1100- 1450)
Terminology:
 Chant – (also known as plainsong) a type of singing, with a simple, unaccompanied
melody line; sacred music
 Motet – Medieval or Renaissance vocal music with two or more simultaneous melody
lines. Sometimes chant melodies were used in motets, although motets are secular
music.
 Sacred – pertaining to the church or “heavenly”
 Secular – pertaining to the “worldly” (non-church)

Chant was used by the Catholic Church to convey biblical text during services. It was
performed in Latin, and usually followed the rhythm of the words (no steady beat). Chant was
popular from 700-1500 (about 800 years!)

The church was very powerful during this time period. Monks, nuns, & priests were
some of the only educated people during the Medieval period. That is why church chant is one
of the only surviving written forms of music from the Medieval period.

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) – a German nun who was known for her intellectual
and musical pursuits. She was one of the few composers of chant whose music still survives.

Different types of chant have been used in many cultures or religions throughout
history, for example, Native American, Buddhist, or Muslim
The Renaissance Period 1450-1600
Terminology:
 Consort – a Renaissance band
 Renaissance means “Rebirth”.
 People of the time focused on intellectual pursuits
 The Arts searched for realism and human emotion
 The Printing press was invented in 1439 (this allowed music to be printed instead of
handwritten by monks)
 Composers began to use harmony in 3 or 4 voice parts
 Popular music: love songs or dances
 Some instruments of the Renaissance Period: shawm, dulcian, viol, recorder, lute, cornetto,
crumhorn, and sackbut
The Baroque Period 1600-1750
Terminology:
 Ornamentation – The addition of decorations, or embellishments, to the basic structure of
the work.
 Basso continuo – the bass line and continuous harmony in Baroque music, usually
performed by cello and harpsichord
 Concerto – a composition for orchestra and one or more solo instruments
 Gigue – the French word for “jig,” it is a quick, lively dance style from the Renaissance
and Baroque eras.
 One of the most important techniques of the Baroque period is ornamentation – music was
highly decorated during this time period.
 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) – Baroque composer whose patrons (employers) were the
church and royalty
 Some Baroque instruments: Harpsichord, Recorder, Baroque Oboe, Baroque Trumpet, Violin,
Cello
The Classical Period 1750- 1830
Terminology:
 Symphony – a large work for orchestra, made up of four movements, which became
standard in the Classical period.
 Sonata – instrumental music for a soloist, who is usually accompanied by a keyboard.
Sonatas usually have 3 movements
 Chamber music – music written for a small group, often having only one voice or
instrument per part and no conductor
 String quartet – a chamber group made up of two violins, one viola and one cello
 Overall characteristics of the Classical Period: balance, symmetry, control, order, and simplicity
 Inspired by ancient Greece & Rome
 Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)
• Austrian music teacher, violinist, composer
• Employed by the Esterhazy family for nearly 30 years
• Became famous and well respected all over Europe
 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
• Known for his emotional intensity, drama, being revolutionary
• Broke tradition by using a motive (a rhythmic or melodic fragment upon which a complex
musical structure is built)
• Broke with the traditional patronage system
• Composed and conducted even after losing his hearing
• Used strong emotions and moods in his music (breaking away from Classical period ideas)
• Added instruments to create a larger symphony orchestra
• Used chorus as part of a symphony (never done before)