Medieval Music

(450-1450)
Short Background
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Centered in the European
history. It was more than a
thousand years old.


Also called the Dark Age,
time of migrations,
upheaval and wars
It was when universities
came to existence.

Most people, including the
nobles, were illiterate.
Music In the Middle
Ages
Sacred Music is dominant
in the Era
The music was centered in
Churches and Cathedrals
Priests were the most
important musicians
Liturgical singing was one of
the most important works
Boys received music education
in schools associated with
churches and cathedrals
Women were not allowed to
sing in church
Characteristics of Middle
Age Music
Mostly Vocal with unidentified
musical instruments as
accompaniment
Sacred
Organ was the most prominent
instrument that time. However, in the
later part of the Era, instruments
became a source of conflict between
composers, who wanted to create
elaborate compositions, probably
secular music, and church authorities,
who wanted music only as an
accompaniment for religious services.
Gregorian Chant
One of the most important
form of music in the Middle
Ages
The official music of Roman
Catholic church for more than
100 years
Named after Pope Gregory I, who
reorganized the Catholic Church
during his reign from 590 to 604
Characteristics of the
Gregorian Chant
It is monophonic in texture
It has a free rhythm
It is calm, with otherworldy
character
It is A Capella
Gregorian Chants used Church
Modes (now known as Modes). It
gives and unnatural sense
because it does not totally follow
the common scales (Major and
Minor Scales). The Church modes
were the basic scales or western
music during Middle ages and
Renaissance and were used both
in sacred and secular music.
Perotin
Protin (fl. c. 1200), also
called Perotin the Great, was a
European composer, believed
to be French, who lived around
the end of the 12th and
beginning of the 13th century.
He was the most famous
member of the Notre Dame
school of polyphony.
Four compositions of Protin:
the four-voice Viderunt
omnes and Sederunt principes,
and the three-voice Alleluia
"Posui adiutorium" and Alleluia
"Nativitas"
Estampie
The Estampie (French: estampie, O
ccitan and Catalan: estampida, Itali
an: istampitte) is a medieval
dance and musical form, it was a
popular instrumental style of the
13th and 14th centuries.