Medieval Music
Musicians
• Bards• Jongleurs• Minstrels• Troubadours• Minnesinger
Instruments
• Vielle (fiddle)• Lute (guitar)• Hurdy-gurdy• Flute• Pipe• Portative Organ
Hurdy Gurdy
Medieval Music
Dark Ages• 600 to 1000 CE• Plainchant• Monophonic• Orally
transmitted• Anonymous
High Middle Ages• 1000 to 1400
CE• Organum• Polyphonic• Musical
Notation• Composers
Organum
• Religious music• Two or more voices (Polyphonic)• Plainchant is heard as one voice
(God)– Tenore, lower voice
• Second voice decorates the first (Man)– Duplum, higher voice
Notre Dame Polyphony
• First polyphony read from notation• Elaborate, more sophisticated style
to go with the new Gothic cathedrals
Notre Dame PolyphonyPerotin – Alleluya (Navititas)
What to listen for:• Distinct upper and lower voices• Melismatic (many notes)• Melody is exchanged between
upper voices
Perotin – Alleluya (Navititas)
Notre Dame PolyphonyMachaut – Messe de Notre Dame
• Guillaume de Machaut was the most important composer of the 14th century
• Supported by royal patrons, allowing him to focus on composition
Machaut – Messe de Notre Dame
Pilgrimage Songs
• Songs that are religious in subject matter and would be played/sung on pilgrimages.
Non e gran causa
• Pilgrimage song• A tale of a pilgrim who sins and
then meets the Devil on the road to Santiago
• The sinner is being watched over by Mary
Dance Music
The Rise of Courtly Culture• The nobility of southern France
created an elaborate society centered on the court
• Music was an important activity of these courts
• The aristocracy took part in the performance and composition of secular works.
La scesa de’ Pastori dal Monte (Descent of the Shepard from the
Hill)• Italian• Composed by Andrea Ansalone• Dancers perform while musicians
play• As new sections of instruments join
the theme, dancers appear on stage as new characters (Dryads, Satyrs, Apes, etc.)
Love Song
• One of the most popular forms of music during the Middle Ages.
• Troubadours would sing these songs in the hope of earning:– a place to spend the night– the favor of a lady– or both
Tempus est iocundum(This is the joyful time)
• From The Carmina Burana– “Songs of Beuren” – Written in the 13th
Century– Discovered in 1803– Over 200 songs
• Lovesick Troubadour• Uncontrollable passion
Tempus est iocundum