UNIT 1: Music of Medieval, VOCAL MUSIC OF THE RENAISAANCE PERIOD

Renaissance, and Baroque Periods 1. Mass is a form of sacred musical

composition that sets texts of the
Music of the Medieval Period (700- Eucharistic liturgy into music.
1400) Characteristics of the Mass:
The Medieval period is also known as the Polyphonic
Middle Ages or Dark Ages that started with the May be sung a capella or with orchestral
fall of the Roman Empire. accompaniment
Text may be syllabic (one note set to each
MONOPHONIC PLAINCHANT was named after syllable), neumatic (a few notes set to one
Pope Gregory I, who made this the approved syllable), or melismatic (many notes to
music of the Catholic Church. one syllable)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GREGORIAN CHANTS: Five Main Sections of Mass:

Monophonic
Free meter Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)
Modal Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest)
Usually based on Latin liturgy Credo (I Believe in One God
Use of Neume notation Sanctus and Benedictus (Holy, holy and
Blessed Is He)
TROUBADOUR MUSIC Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Usually monophonic
Sometimes with improvised 2. Madrigal A secular vocal polyphonic
accompaniment music composition which originated from
Tells of chivalry and courtly love Italy. It is written and expressed in a poetic
Originated in France text and sung during courtly social
Written in the French language gatherings. It is the most important
secular form during the Renaissance
FAMOUS COMPOSER OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD period.
Adam de la Halle, France (1237-1288) was
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MADRIGAL:
also known as Adam le Bosu (Adam the
Hunchback). Adam was destined for the
Polyphonic
church but he eventually married. He was
Sung a capella
one of the oldest secular composers. He
Through composed
was a French-born-trouvere, poet and
musician. His musical play, Jeu de Robin et Frequently 3 to 6 voices
Marion was considered the earliest *Listen to April is In My Mistress Face
surviving secular French play with music. by Thomas Morley
La Chanson du roi de Sicile was also hos
Famous Composers of the Renaissance Period
work.
1. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Rome,
Music of the Renaissance Period (1400-
1525 February 2, 1594 the greatest
1600)
master of Roman Catholic Church music
The term Renaissance comes from the
during the Renaissance period. Majority of
word renaitre which means rebirth, revival,
his composition are sacred music. He was
and rediscovery. The Renaissance Period is a
committed to sacred music and has a keen
period of looking back to the Golden Age of
interest in satisfying the desires of church
Greece and Rome.
leaders in the sixteenth century.
Lute the prominent instrument of the
2. Thomas Morley, 1557 - 1602 - he was the
renaissance era.
most famous composer of secular music in
Though sacred music was still of great
his time. He received his bachelors degree
importance, secular music became more
in Oxford and became an organist at St.
prominent in the renaissance period. This era was
Pauls in London.
also known as the golden age of a capella choral
His Musica Transalpina, a
music.
collection of Italian madrigals fitted with
CHARACTERISTICS OF RENAISSANCE MUSIC:
English text, was published in 1588 by
Mostly polyphonic
Nicholas Yonge. He began publishing his
Imitation among the voices is common own collections of madrigals and made
Use of word painting in text and music significant contribution to the history of
Melodic lines move in a flowing manner music.
Melodies are easier to perform because
these move along a scale with a few large His works include:
leaps
Fire, Fire, My Heart
Sing and Chant It
 Fantasie
April Is In My Mistress Face 5. Chorale - musical compositions that
It Was A Lover and His Lass resemble a harmonized version of hymnal
tunes of the Protestant Church during the
Music of the Baroque Period (1685- Baroque era.
1750)
FAMOUS COMPOSERS OF THE BAROQUE
The word Baroque is derived from the PERIOD
Portugese word barroco which means pearl of
irregular shape. Some of the great composers of 1. Johann Sebastian Bach, Germany, March
this time were George Friedrich Handel, Johann 21, 1685 July 28, 1750 He came from a
Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, and Antonio family of musicians. Bachs beautiful
Vivaldi. soprano singing voice helped him to be
accepted at a school in Luiiberg. A few
CHARACTERISTICS OF BAROQUE MUSIC: years later, his voice changed and Bach
focused his attention to playing the violin
Melodies sound elaborate and ornamental and harpsichord.
Melodies are not easy to sing or His works include:
remember Concerto Grosso (Brandenburg Concertos)
Primarily contrapuntal textures with some Masses (Mass in B minor)
homophony Cantatas (Cantata 208 and 211)
Dynamic contrast alteration between Fugues (Fugue in G minor)
loud and soft Works for clavichord and harpsichord
Music genres operas, oratorios, suites,
tocatas, concerto grosso, fugue 2. Antonio Vivaldi, Venice, March 4, 1678
Orchestra consists of strings and continuo July 28, 1741 in Vienna he is also named
Harpsichord and organ are the keyboard il Prete Rosso (The Red Priest) because
instruments that are commonly used of his red hair, he was an Italian Baroque
New forms: composer, Catholic priest and a virtuoso
1. Binary AD violinist. His most famous piece is The
2. Ternary ABC Four Seasons. This composition is a series
3. Ground bass of four violin concerti depicting each of
4. Fugue the seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn,
and Winter.
MUSIC GENRES OF BAROQUE MUSIC
3. George Friedrich Handel, Germany,
1. Concerto a form of orchestral music that February 23, 1685 April 14, 1759 in
employs a solo instrument accompanied London he was the second son from the
by an orchestra. second marriage of a pastor. Despite his
2. Concerto Grosso a form of orchestral fathers opposition, George secretly
music during the Baroque Period wherein taught himself to play the harpsichord.
the music is between a small group of solo Handel is remembered for his operas and
instruments called concertino and the oratorios.
whole orchestra called tutti. Handel lost both of his eyesight in
3. Fugue 1753. When he conducted his oratorio,
A contrapuntal piece, developed Samson, a few in the audience were
mainly by imitative counterpoint unaware that he had lost his eyesight.
It is usually written 3 or 4 parts, The Messiah is Handels most
with a main theme called famous creation and the very well-known
subject Hallelujah chorus is part of handels
The entire piece grows mainly Messiah.
from a single brief tune of strong The Messiah was written in the
musical character apace of twenty four days in London but
4. Oratorio a large scale musical it was in Dublin when The Messiah was
composition for orchestra and voices that first performed and became an instant
incorporates narratives on religious success.
themes. Unlike usual theatrical works, this
is usually performed without the use of
costumes, scenery, or action.

Examples:

a. Handels Messiah, Samson, Israel,

and Egypt
b. Bachs Christmas Oratorio
c. Haydns The Creation