Music in the Middle Ages

1. MIDDL
E
AGES450-1450

2. MIDDLE AGES
refers to a period of European history
spanning from about 450 to 1450. During the
middle ages, there were two important artistic
periods:
• The Romanesque (1000-1150)
• The Gothic (1150-1450)

3. known as “The Dark ages” in Europe
began about 450 with the disintegration of the
Roman Empire.

4. Most important musicians were PRIESTS

5. VOCAL MUSIC
• Most medieval music was Vocal.

6. RELIGIOUS MUSIC
• The view of the later medieval church on
music during religious services was that it
should be used as a discreet
accompaniment.

7. CHARACTERISTICS OF MUSIC
• Began in 500 B.B. when Pythagoras experimented
with the acoustics and how math related to tones
formed from plucking strings.
• The main form of music , Gregorian Chant, named
for Pope Gregory I. This music was used in Catholic
Churches to enhance the services.
• It has a free-flowing rhythm with little or no set beat.
• The chants were originally all passed through oral
tradition, but they became so numerous that the
monks began to notate them.

10. “So be pure in your mind so that your
actions may be pure and faultless.”

12. GREGORIAN CHANT
Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)
• Dies Irae was traditionally ascribed to Thomas
of Celano but now attributed to an unknown
Franciscan of that period.
• It is still used in the Office of the Dead and the
Feast of All Souls Day (Nov. 2).

13. GREGORIAN CHANT
Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)
• Dies Irae was traditionally ascribed to Thomas of
Celano but now attributed to an unknown
Franciscan of that period.
• It is still used in the Office of the Dead and the Feast
of All Souls Day (Nov. 2).

15. “What is wrong my dear? I am simply
partying with the rhythm.”

16. SECULAR MUSIC
Estampie; Arany Zoltan
• A medieval dance, one of the earliest surviving
forms of instrumental music single melodic line is
notated.
• No instrument specified
Common instruments were used:
• Rebec – bowed string instruments
• Pipe – tubular wind instrument
• Psaltery – plucked or struck string instrument

19. POLYPHONY:
ORGANUM
Alleluia Nativitas; Perotin, composer
• Medieval music that consists of a Gregorian chant
and one or more additional melodic lines
• Originally, a second melodic line was improvised,
usually just duplicating the melody on a different
pitch