MUS 121 Lecture Notes - Pope Gregory I, Gregorian Chant, Medieval Music
27 Feb 2018
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Medieval music 476 CE – 1450
• Music was an oral tradition passed down
• Early sacred music was not notated
• Musical notation began to appear in the 10th century. The markings used to represent
music were known as neumes
• Pope Gregory I is credited for having music assigned to specific celebrations in the
church calendar
• The pope’s decree led to the developet of a stadardized syste of usic otatio
known as Gregorian Chant
• Chant – known as plainsong or plainchant, are monophonic in texture, the texts are in
Latin and derived from the bible
• Rhythm in chant is unmeasured and tempo is flexible
• The melodic material was based on a system of scales known as church modes
• One of the most influential female composers was Hildegard of Bingen
• The mass is the most solemn service of the medieval Christian church
• Ordinary – parts of the mass where the text does not change
• Proper – parts of the mass where text changes depending on the day in the church
calendar
• Parts of the Ordinary include: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (in this order)
• Music remained monophonic until around the 10th century, when two or more voice
parts began appearing in combination
• The development of polyphonic music took place in Northern France and was
dominated by the Notre Dame School led by Leonin
• The earliest polyphonic pieces were called organa (singular, organum) and this period of
style is called ars nova (old music)
• The rhythm of organa was unmeasured, as it was just two melodies moving at the same
time
• Secular music in the medieval period was typically written in the vernacular
• The most important early secular vocal music was created and performed by poet-
musicians called troubadors
• Melodies were typical monophonic – one note with one symbol
• Melisma – an ornamental technique where multiple notes are sung to one syllable of
text
• Secular music was typically strophic, meaning each verse of text is sung to the same
melody. In other words, same notes and different words
• Instruments were not used in the church but occasionally used in secular music
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