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