The Medieval/ Renaissance Era (476 CE-1600)

Medieval Church Modes

476

eight scales prevalent in medieval music based on whole steps and half steps. Each mode has its own unique arrangement. If you find the formula, you can build a mode beginning on any note.

The Mass

476

Main service of the church. Included two parts: Ordinary and Proper. Ordinary (set texts) includes: kyrie, gloria, credo, sanctus, angus dei. Proper (changing text) includes: alleluia, gradual, offertory,

Gregorian Chant

476

The Roman Dialect of Chant. Set neumatically and melismatically. Would have been responsorial.

The Church (Catholic)

476

Most things that were secular, popular, or entertaining were suppressed by the church. Resulted in Plainchant.

Medieval Era (476 CE - 1430s)

Period: 476 to 1430

The Fall of Rome, and the Start of the Medieval Era. Slow changes in life culture and dissemination of knowledge. Music came from "god".

Musical Traits of Chant

Period: 476 to 1435

Latin Text, modal music, a capella. Melodies declaimed the words, while phrases and periods corresponded with texts.

Guido of Arezzo (ca 991-after 1033)

991

Music theorist; is credited with "inventing" the staff. Suggested using the red line for F and a yellow line for C.

Burgundy (ca. 995-ca. 1050)

995

Priest, poet, and composer (we believe).

Hildegard Von Bingen (1098-1179)

1098

Founder and abbess of the convent at Rupertsberg, Germany. Famous for her prophetic powers and revelations.Wrote liturgical dramas and religious poetry.

Rebec

1100

a bowed string instrument of European medieval and early renaissance music. Developed around the 11th century.

Ventadorn (ca. 1130-40-ca.1190-1200)

1135

Famous troubadour; perhaps the finest of the troubadour poets; very important musically since his music survives than any other 19th century poet.

Leonin (ca 1135-ca. 1201)

1135

Master of Organum at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris.

Comtessa Beatriz de Dia (d. ca. 1212)

1140

Famous female troubadour; she has left us the only surviving melody by a female troubadour.

Perotin (fl. 1180-ca. 1238)

1180

Master of discant organum at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris; supposed student of Leonin. Wrote 3 and 4-voice organum.

Moniot d' Arras (fl. 1213-39)

1213

Trouvere; wrote in several genres and forms; monk at Arras

Magna Carta

1215

a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede

Adam de la Halle (ca. 1245-50-ca. 1285-8)

1245

One of the last trouveres; wrote polyphony; studied in Paris.

Phillipe de Vitry (1291-1361)

1291

Known as the "inventor of new art," french composer, poet, theorist and bishop; established a new tradition of mensural notation.

Eyeglasses

1300

The first wearable glasses known to history appeared in Italy during the 13th century. This invention improved the quality of life for the visually impaired.

The Ars Nova

Period: 1300 to 1350

New art; new rhythmic polyphony in the motets

The Black Death

1347

A devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia.

Dunstaple (ca. 1390-1453)

1390

English, but influenced musical style in Europe. More 3rds and 6th were used in the harmonies, known as triadic music.

Renaissance

Period: 1430 to 1600

Renaissance= rebirth. Formed new complex currents of thought concerning: arts, science, and religion.

Tinctoris (ca. 1435-1511)

1435

Composer and music theorist: wrote about contemporary music. Wrote the first dictionary of musical terms: Diffinitorum musices (c.1475)

Isaac (1450-1517)

1450

Prolific German composer; court composer to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I in Vienna.

Obrecht (ca. 1457-1505)

1457

Made important contributions to large- scale forms and their unity; Dutch; important composer of masses in Europe.

Petrucci (1466-1539)

1466

First music printer and publisher; preserved Renaissance music for us today

Luther (1483-1546)

1483

German theologian and composer; he was the founder of the Lutheran Church

Willaert (ca. 1490-1562)

1490

Complex, continuous polyphony; strong.

The crumhorn

1500

Used in the 14th and 17th century in Europe, is a wooden instrument with a cylinder bore. The crumhorn is the earliest and most common instrument of the reed cap family.

Tallis (1505-85)

1505

English composer who wrote a 40- voice part motet.

Monte (1521-1603)

1521

Most prolific composer of the Renaissance; At the Viennese and Prague courts; religious; mixed polyphony and homophony.

Palestrina (c. 1525-94)

1525

The most famous composer from the Renaissance. Roman style; responded to the requests of the Council of Trent to reform Catholic church music. Mostly contrapuntal liturgical music.

Byrd (ca. 1540-1623)

1540

English; Catholic composer writing both Protestant and Catholic music in England; greatest English composer of his time.

Shakespeare (1564-1616)

1564

English playwright and poet; he has been an important force in the field of music from his day to ours.

Montiverdi (1567-1643)

1567

Ahead of his time; took music into a new style (seconda pratica vs the older, prima pratica).

Flush Toilet

1596

The first modern flush toilet was described by Sir John Harington, an English courtier and the godson of Queen Elizabeth