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The Middle Ages
8th Grade General Music
The Middle Ages
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In the Middle Ages (400 C.E.-1400
C.E.), also known as the Medieval
Period or Dark Ages, there were
three classes of people.
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The first class was the nobility. They
were rich landowners, and from these
people came our legends of knights in
shining armor.
The clergy was the second class,
consisting of priests who worked in the
church, and monks who lived in
monasteries.
Most people belonged in the third class
made up of poor farmers known as
peasants. The average peasant lived to
be 30 years of age and ate little more
than black bread and turnips.
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The first class was the nobility.
They were rich landowners,
and from these people came our
legends of knights in shining
armor.
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The clergy was the second class,
consisting of priests who worked in
the church, and monks who lived in
monasteries.
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Most people belonged in the third class made up of poor farmers known as
peasants. The average peasant lived to be 30 years of age and ate little more
than black bread and turnips.
Sacred Music
Sacred Music
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In the Middle Ages, the church was central
in the lives of people. In turn, the music of
the church (sacred music) was very
important.
Sacred Music
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Sacred music of the Middle Ages was called plainsong and consisted of a
single melody with words in the Latin language. The melody of plainsong
was simple so that the words would be easily understood by others.
The words were a part of the Roman Catholic liturgy, including the church
service known as the Mass.
Plainsong was written down by monks on four line staves using square
notes called neumes. The most well-known form of plainsong is called
Gregorian Chant, in honor of Pope Gregory the First.
This manuscript is illuminated.
This says:
Translated:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
The sacred music was recorded by monks in the Catholic Church.
Secular Music
Secular Music
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While sacred music dominated the
Middle Ages, secular (non-religious)
music became popular. People called
minstrels traveled from castle to
castle singing songs, tell stories, and
perform tricks.
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Their songs and stories were usually all
about love, life, and chivalry.
Like plainsongs, secular songs were
normally simple with only one melody.
The secular songs were written in the
vernacular, or the language of the people.
Stringed or percussion instruments often
accompanied the minstrels’ songs.
Minstrels gradually formed guilds and
became more respected members of the
growing middle class.
Secular Music
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Minstrels
○ Many were highly paid.
○ They were on the payrolls of
courts and cities.
○ They came from many
economic backgrounds.
Musical Plays
○ Musical plays were built
around stories and folk
songs.
While we have more evidence of
sacred songs being written down
and preserved, some secular
songs were preserved in
songbooks.
Composers
Famous Composers
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Léonin worked at Notre Dame
cathedral who was a poet and
composer and put together a book of
music for use at the Notre Dame
Cathedral.
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Perotin was another famous
composer.
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The original book no longer exists, but
the parts of the book that have survived
in several books that came later.
All we know about him was that he edited
the Magnus Liber by Léonin and wrote
work of his own.
Most music in the Middle Ages was
written anonymously, which means
we don’t know who wrote it.
Famous Composers
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Hildegard von Bingen lived from 1098 to
1179.
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Women were not allowed to be apart of religious
music unless they were nuns in a convent.
In a convent, women could perform all duties
except officiate Mass.
Hildegard’s accomplishments
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She was in charge of her own convent.
She had visions and was famous for her
prophecies.
She preached all over Germany
She wrote books on science, books on healing, and
books on her visions.
She wrote poems and started to put them to music
in the 1140s
■ She claimed that her songs were inspired by
God, which basically allowed her to do
things other women weren’t allowed to do.