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Period: 500 to 1450
Medieval Period
Musical practices were expanded from Greece and other locations to the West through the Chrisitan Church and Roman Catholic Church.
Musical terminology was developed.
Gregorian Chant, Plainchant, Motet, Ars Nova and Mass were established.
Rhythmic Notation was developed. -
1025
Guido of Arezzo's formulation of the Solmization System
ca. 1025-1028
Set of syllables (ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la) used to teach sight-singing.
Helped the singers to remember the pattern of whole tones and semitones in the six steps (hexachords) beginning on C, G, or F
Associated with the Guidonian Hand (visual aid for solmization) -
1098
Hildegard of Bingen
Lived from 1098 to 1179
Writer and composer (poems, proses and songs).
Best recorded and most known composer of sacred monophony.
Texts focused on the Virgin Mary, the Trinity, or saints
Major work was Ordo virtutum, additionally 43 antiphons, 18 responsories, 7 sequences, 4 hymns, 5 other chants. -
1320
Ars Nova Treatise
Attributed to Philippe de Vitry (ca. 1291-1361).
New way of composing in the 14th century.
Stylistic and technical innovations: creation of the breve and subdivison (long-breve, breve-long, breve-breve-breve), perfect and imperfect time, major and minor prolation (signaled by the presence or absense of a dot). Allowed for duple and triple subsivision.
Centered on rhythm and notation.
Leading composer in France Guillaume de Machaut (ca. 1300–1377). -
Period: 1450 to
Renaissance Period
"Rebirth"
15th sencutry: Consonants 3rds and 6ths were adopted in Europe. Homophonic and homorhythmic textures emphasized similarities in voices. Four part textures, equal voice importance. Borrowing melodies (common in secular and sacred music) 16th century: driven by humanism. Wordpainting was used. Controlled dissonance and voice independence. Chromatism explored, homophony returned. Instrumental music evolved. Period genres were: Chason, cyclical mass, motet, madrigal, villancico -
1529
Martin Luther Chorale "Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott"
"A Mighty Fortress is our God" by Martin Luther
Best known chorale he composed.
It became an anthem to Reformation.
Chorales were characterized by having only a text and a tune. Metrical and simple. -
1538
Arcadelt Madrigal "Il Bianco E Dolce Cigno"
"The White and Sweet Swan" by Jacob Arcadelt
One of the most famous early Madrigals.
Swan death is the metaphor of sexual climax.
Sweet, homophonic texture. -
1567
Palestrina's Pope Marcellus Mass
Example of Palestrina's style
It saved polyphony from being condemned by the Council of Trent.
He demonstrated that text can be understood in polyphonic work instead of being obscured. -
Victoria's "Missa O Magnum Mysterium"
Parody Mass by Tomás Luis de Victoria.
Based on his polyphonic motet O Magnum Mysterium.