FIRST 3 PERIODS:

1.Medieval Period (700-1400)

-Middle Ages or Dark Ages that started with fall of
Roman Empire.
-Christian Church influenced Europe's culture
- Pope Gregory I approved the MONOPHONIC
PLAINCHANTS
 -monophonic
-Free meter
-modal
-Based on Latin liturgy
-Use of Neume Notation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK5AohC
MXoU
 Secular music not bound by Catholic emerged
and performed by groups of musicians called
TROUBADOURS
Troubadour Music
- Usually monophonic but sometimes with
improvised accompaniment
- Tells of chivalry and courtly love
- Originated in France
- Written in French language
 Adam de la Halle, France, 1237-1288
-aka Adam le Bossu ( Adam the Hunchback)
-one of the oldest secular composers
-French-born trouvere, poet and musician, whose
literary and musical works include chansons and
jeux-partis (poetic-debates)
- His works include:
a) Le Jeu de Robin et Marion
-earliest surviving secular French play with music
b) La Chanson du roi de Sicile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHoebp8Vgxs
 2. RENAISSANCE PERIOD
(1400-1600)
- From the word renaitre which means rebirth
- A period of looking back to the Golden Age of
Greece and Rome
- Influence of RCC started to decline as the new music
genre arose SECULAR MUSIC
-Era is known as golden age of a capella choral music
-Lute was the prominent instrument of renaissance
 Characteristic of Renaissance Music
Mostly polyphonic
Imitation among the voices is common
Use of word painting in texts and music
Melodic lines move in a flowing manner
Melodics are easier to perform these moves
along a scale with a few large leaps
 VOCAL MUSIC OF RENAISSANCE PERIOD
1. MASS- form of sacred musical composition that
sets texts of Eucharistic liturgy into music
Characteristics:
-polyphonic
-With orchestral accompaniment or a capella
-text may be syllabic(one note set to each syllable),
neumatic(few notes to one syllable),
melismatic(many notes to one syllable)
 5 Main Sections of Mass
1. Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)
2. Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest)
3. Credo ( I Believe in One God)
4. Sanctus and Benedictus( Holy, Holy and
Blessed is He)
5. Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaiXCGojHB8
 2. MADRIGAL
-Secular vocal polyphonic music originated from Italy
-sung during courtly social gatherings
-most important secular form during renaissance period
Characteristics:
-polyphonic
-Sung a capella
-through-composed
-Frequently in 3-6 voices

***April is in my mistress Face-Thomas Morley