The Heavy Use Of Monophonic Form Of Medieval Music

Music is present in every culture’s past, present, and future. It has been around since 500 B.C. and was especially important in the Elizabethan Era. There were reinventions of music as it was widespread and popular. Without this essential time in history, modern music may have been completely different from what we have today. This era brought new uses for music, styles of compositions, new instruments, and the uprising of popular composers.

Two composers about this period are: (Hildegregard of Bingen What's more Leonin-ca. ). - those primary 500 quite some time from claiming this period, those pre-dominate kind of music might have been alluded should as Gregorian chant, a monophonic vocal music that might have been sung Previously, church. Those stayed of the time saw a bit by bit evolving unpredictability in the music from serenade comprising of a absolute melodic line will two part composing called organum, Furthermore At last should polyphonic consecrated (religiously based) compositions known as motets (often setting of prayers) Furthermore massenet (settings for specific writings from the custom move fact Mass). A large portion

though the chants were known by all the people, there were still not considered the music

2.     This piece differs from the traditional Gregorian chant of the Middle ages because of the jumps and leaps presented in the piece, which show that the piece was written after the period. Another reason it differs from chant is because this is plainchant rather than Gregorian. It is also sung in English, rather than the traditional Latin text.

The Medieval period began in 500 A.D. and ended in 1450 A.D. During this time in particular, the Catholic Church had significant influence on how music was used and created. Sacred music, for example, was most prevalent because of this. Due to the religious nature of this period, music in the church had to adhere to very specific regulations, some of which included prayers such as plainchants or Gregorian chants. A single melody without harmony, or one musical part sung together in unison, is called a Monophonic melody, which was sung primarily by monks. Some time later, around 900 A.D., the using of two melodic lines was permitted by the church, this music was called organum. A low, continuous note called a drone, was sung at the same time as the main melody. The two melodies were often moving in contrasting motion to each other. By the Late-Medieval period, 1100 A.D., the music of the church had shifted from monophonic to more polyphonic, often two or more varying parts.

Instrumental music in the Middle Ages was generally improvised rather than played from notation. True

Western musical styles have developed into the music what we listen to today in the twentieth century. Throughout time composers have created new ways to enhance music by adding harmonies, phrases, dynamics, and much more. At the start of music, composers kept a simple melody using the same frame of pitches in simple tunes. As we became more educated, so did our music and we are now able to create songs with texture and countermelodies all within a plethora of genres. The use of notation has changed our music we have allowed music to obtain variety, depth, and be shared amongst people for thousands of years. Without notation, music would have no way to thrive and expand on what composers discovered and experimented with. We can see how western music developed throughout the musical notation of the eras. Starting in the Middle Ages, we can see the basics of Western music and where it all began.

​ Life in the Middle Ages revolved around the Church, which was the Roman Catholic. So, we can imagine early music was pretty much from church. Every morning at 9 o’clock was Mass, a significant ceremony done to commemorate the Last Supper. At this church service, the music was the Gregorian Chant. The Gregorian chant is performed in the Latin language, unison voice and accompanied by no instruments which was believed that the text of the song which carried the divine message from God was more important. The music was just to help you get to a spiritual place (Wright, 4-1a).

•Monophonic, texture evolved to homophonic texture in opera and solo arias, influencing both sacred and secular music. Many instrumental compositions were also homophonic.

3. Medieval and Renaissance culture varied in many ways, aside from the differing music. In the Medieval age (the time between the 5th and 15th century), the church controlled many things, not only music. The church was in charge of education, the church also dominated politics. People very much feared God. Whereas in the Renaissance (15th and 17th century) the state ruled over the church. People in the Renaissance believed that God wasn’t some fearsome being, instead they believed more in logical and practical thinking.

Music provided rhythm for chores, such as working in the field, and it was also used to celebrate important events as well as

For example, Pérotin was a French composer of the twelfth century who was well known for using multiple voices and having composed extremely complex and creative chords. In his hymn titled “Viderunt Omnes” you can clearly hear the layering of multiple voices. I agree with Howard when he says this song has a “jaunty” rhythm and “weirdly effective” harmonies. Although this song sounded strange and disorganized, it was still pleasing to listen to. The notation of the song was intense. There was so much going on and the notes were so compact. It was impressive listening to the choir perform such a complex song.

In 1750, the classical period of music started, and it terminated in 1810. The texture was primarily homophonic (Fuller – “Classical”), which means there is

The feelings that the Ancient Romans had towards music could be described as ambivalent. They admired it and at the same time, they condemned it. Music, nevertheless, played a role in Roman society that, as time passed, became less and less important to the Romans. As a result, much of the information about music in Ancient Rome has been lost in time. However what has been discovered about this topic is quite fascinating, in spite of what it is lacking. The subsequent paragraphs will explain some of the aspects of Roman life regarding music. This includes the history of music in Ancient Rome, the instruments that the Romans played, the uses of music in their society and the impact that music in Rome has had on the music of today.

Beginning at around 476 AD, the medieval era is mostly related to the church as most music from this era is sacred. The style of this era, the Gregorian chant is monophonic only comprising of the plainchant (or the single- line melodies of early church music) in texture only comprising of the plainchant (or the single- line melodies of early church music). It is not until the arrival of the French composers Léonin and Pèrotin in 1100 and 1200 respectively that polyphony would be incorporated into musical worship with the “decoration” of Gregorian chant with one or more simultaneous musical lines, thus transitioning from Gregorian chant to Organum. During this era, most of the music and roles for musicians belonged to the church except for the troubadours of southern France and the trouvères of northern France. The music was responsorial between the mass and the father during church and was