These are the notes that we use for the Middle Ages in the Seventh Grade Music Class:
Middle Ages : 500 – 1400 A.D.
Gregorian Chant – plainsong developed by Pope Gregory I to be sung as part of the Catholic church mass
a capella – unaccompanied singing
Syllabic – one note per syllable
Neumatic – a couple of notes per syllable
Melismatic – many notes per syllable
Psalmodic – numerous syllables on one note
Secular songs – monophonic and syllabic with meter
Troubadours – traveling poet-musicians who would perform songs and poetry passed along by word of mouth.
Minstrels – people who were poet-musicians and appointed by the royal courts or feudal lords and paid by their employers. Their employment was subjected to the royalty liking their performances.
Organum – the first Western civilization attempt at harmony during the ninth (9) century. It was the first polyphonic music composed and sung with parallel harmony.
Ars Nova – a style of music that evolved in France during the 14th century. This included many different forms such as songs, ballads, dance and virelais.
Motets – precursor of the madrigal which involved polyphony and words put to the different parts.
Composers:
Guillaume de Machaut – (1300-1377) wrote masses and motets
Francesco Landini – (1325-1397) an organist who wrote many ballads
For additional composers from the Middle Ages, click on the following link to the Composer Paper.
Instruments:
Recorder, lute, viol, organ, nakers (drum)
12/11/2002