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Medieval
The earliest music was passed on by word of mouth in what was called the
oral tradition.
Traditional music began in the 6th century when Pope Gregory wrote down
plainsong chant.
All plainsong chant had only one vocal line. Music that is performed in
unison is called monophony. The adjective form is monophony.
Different melodic lines were eventually added to plainsong chant, often
either a pedal tone or a parallel line that started on a different note. This was
called organum.
When music has more than one note at a time, but the words and phrases
begin and end at the same time, it is called homophony. The adjective form
is homophonic.
Most recorded medieval music was sacred not secular, due to the strong
influence of the church.
Define each term:
Sacred- religious
Secular- not religious
Secular music was performed by troubadours, wandering musicians who
sang about women and drinking.
A few important Medieval composers (sort of):
Guido d’Arezzo (c.995-c.1050) He was a theorist, not a composer, and
invented the first staff. He also invented solfege and used it as a way to
teach his singers more music in less time.
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) First recorded Western composer,
surprisingly a women.
Leonin (c.1135 - c.1201) Worked at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and
wrote the important book of organum called Magnus Liber, or in English,
Big Book.
Perotin (1160 - 1220) Worked at Notre Dame Cathedral after Leonin,
writing more complex organum.
Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377) Used the compositional technique
cantus firmus, which is writing a piece around an existing melody. He also
wrote the first polyphonic mass setting, a style many Renaissance musicians
copied.
Definition- Polyphonic music has more than one melody at a time.