History of Music

🎼History of Music Unit 1 – Ancient and Medieval Music

Ancient and Medieval music laid the foundation for Western classical music. From prehistoric times to the 15th century, this era saw the development of notation, polyphony, and various musical forms. Religious institutions, particularly the Catholic Church, played a crucial role in shaping musical practices. Key figures like Hildegard of Bingen, Léonin, and Guillaume de Machaut contributed to the evolution of sacred and secular music. The period's legacy includes the establishment of musical notation, the emergence of polyphonic techniques, and the creation of enduring musical forms.

Key Historical Periods

  • Ancient music period spans from prehistory to the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD
  • Medieval music period extends from the 5th century to the early 15th century
    • Early Medieval period (500-1150) characterized by monophonic chant and early polyphony
    • High Medieval period (1150-1300) marked by the development of polyphony and the rise of secular music
    • Late Medieval period (1300-1400) saw the emergence of the Ars Nova style and the growth of instrumental music
  • Renaissance music period follows the Medieval period, lasting from the early 15th century to the early 17th century
  • Baroque music period spans from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century
  • Classical music period extends from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century
  • Romantic music period covers the 19th century
  • 20th and 21st centuries encompass various modern and contemporary music styles

Major Composers and Works

  • Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) composed monophonic chants such as "Ordo Virtutum"
  • Léonin (fl. late 12th century) and Pérotin (fl. c. 1200) developed polyphonic organum at Notre Dame Cathedral
    • Léonin's "Magnus Liber Organi" and Pérotin's "Viderunt Omnes" exemplify early polyphony
  • Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377) composed secular songs, motets, and the "Messe de Nostre Dame," the first complete polyphonic mass setting
  • Francesco Landini (c. 1325-1397) composed secular songs and instrumental music, such as "Non avra ma' pieta questa mia donna"
  • Guillaume Dufay (c. 1397-1474) and Gilles Binchois (c. 1400-1460) were prominent composers of the Burgundian School, known for their polyphonic chansons and sacred works
  • Josquin des Prez (c. 1450-1521) was a key figure of the Renaissance, composing masses, motets, and secular songs like "Ave Maria... virgo serena"
  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594) composed masses and motets, such as the "Missa Papae Marcelli," which exemplified the Counter-Reformation style

Instruments and Performance Practices

  • Ancient instruments included lyres, harps, aulos (double reed pipe), and percussion instruments
  • Medieval instruments encompassed wind, string, and percussion instruments
    • Wind instruments: flutes, recorders, shawms, bagpipes, and organs
    • String instruments: lutes, fiddles, harps, and psalteries
    • Percussion instruments: drums, bells, and cymbals
  • Performance practices in the Medieval period varied based on the context and genre of music
    • Monophonic chant was performed by monks and nuns in churches and monasteries
    • Polyphonic music was performed by trained singers, often in churches or courts
    • Secular music, such as troubadour and trouvère songs, was performed by traveling musicians
  • Instrumental music gained prominence in the Late Medieval and Renaissance periods
    • Consorts, or groups of instruments from the same family, became popular
    • Dance music was often performed by instrumental ensembles
  • Improvisation and ornamentation were common practices in both vocal and instrumental music

Musical Forms and Styles

  • Monophonic chant, such as Gregorian chant, featured a single melodic line without accompaniment
  • Organum introduced early polyphony, with a plainchant melody accompanied by one or more voices
    • Parallel organum featured voices moving in parallel motion
    • Free organum allowed for more independent voice movement
  • Motet developed in the 13th century, featuring multiple voices singing different texts simultaneously
  • Secular song forms included the troubadour and trouvère songs, as well as the Italian madrigal
    • Troubadour and trouvère songs were monophonic and often dealt with themes of courtly love
    • Madrigals were polyphonic secular songs that aimed to express the emotions of the text
  • Polyphonic mass settings became increasingly complex throughout the Medieval and Renaissance periods
    • The cantus firmus mass used a pre-existing melody as the basis for composition
    • The parody mass borrowed themes from secular songs or motets
  • The Renaissance saw the development of imitative polyphony, where musical motifs were passed between voices
    • Canon and fugue techniques were used to create complex, interwoven textures

Cultural and Social Context

  • Music in ancient civilizations was often tied to religious rituals, ceremonies, and storytelling
  • In the Medieval period, the Catholic Church was a significant patron and influencer of musical development
    • Monophonic chant was used in liturgical services and monastic worship
    • Polyphony developed within the church, initially to embellish chant melodies
  • Secular music flourished in the courts of nobility and among traveling musicians
    • Troubadours and trouvères were poet-musicians who composed and performed love songs
    • Minstrels and jongleurs entertained audiences with music, poetry, and storytelling
  • The rise of universities in the 13th century fostered the study of music theory and composition
  • The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to changes in sacred music, emphasizing simplicity and congregational participation
  • The invention of the printing press in the 15th century facilitated the dissemination of musical scores and treatises

Notation and Theory Development

  • Neumes, early musical notation symbols, indicated the general shape of a melody without specifying exact pitches or rhythms
  • The development of staff notation in the 11th century allowed for more precise pitch representation
    • Guido d'Arezzo introduced the four-line staff and the hexachord system
    • Square notation, using square-shaped notes, became prevalent in the 13th century
  • Rhythmic notation evolved from the use of rhythmic modes in the 13th century to the mensural notation system in the 14th century
    • Rhythmic modes used patterns of long and short notes to indicate rhythms
    • Mensural notation used note shapes to represent specific durations
  • Music theory treatises, such as the "Musica enchiriadis" (9th century) and Guido d'Arezzo's "Micrologus" (11th century), codified musical concepts and practices
  • The development of polyphony led to the exploration of consonance, dissonance, and counterpoint rules
  • The Renaissance saw the emergence of tonal harmony, with the concept of major and minor keys

Religious Influence on Music

  • The Catholic Church played a central role in the development of Western music throughout the Medieval and Renaissance periods
  • Gregorian chant, named after Pope Gregory I, became the standard repertoire for the Catholic liturgy
    • Chant was used in the Mass and the Divine Office, the daily cycle of prayers
    • Different chant traditions developed, such as the Ambrosian, Mozarabic, and Gallican chants
  • Polyphony emerged as a way to embellish chant melodies, leading to the development of organum, conductus, and motet
  • The Catholic Church's influence extended to the regulation of musical practices and composition
    • The Council of Trent (1545-1563) aimed to reform church music, emphasizing clarity of text and simplicity
    • Composers like Palestrina responded to these reforms, creating a style that balanced polyphonic complexity with textual clarity
  • The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century brought about significant changes in sacred music
    • Martin Luther emphasized congregational singing and vernacular hymns, such as chorales
    • John Calvin favored simple, unaccompanied psalm singing in worship
  • The Anglican Church developed its own musical traditions, including the English anthem and the service music of composers like Thomas Tallis and William Byrd

Legacy and Impact on Later Music

  • The development of notation systems in the Medieval period laid the foundation for the preservation and dissemination of musical works
  • The polyphonic techniques and forms developed in the Medieval and Renaissance periods influenced the music of the Baroque era and beyond
    • The motet and madrigal influenced the development of the cantata and oratorio
    • Imitative polyphony and counterpoint techniques continued to be used and expanded by composers like J.S. Bach
  • The modal system used in Medieval and Renaissance music influenced the development of tonal harmony in the Baroque and Classical periods
  • The Catholic Church's influence on music continued, with composers like Monteverdi, Bach, and Mozart writing masses and other sacred works
  • The Protestant Reformation's emphasis on congregational singing and vernacular hymns influenced the development of the chorale and the Lutheran cantata
  • The rediscovery and revival of early music in the 19th and 20th centuries led to a renewed interest in Medieval and Renaissance repertoire
    • Musicologists and performers like Wanda Landowska and Noah Greenberg played a key role in this revival
    • Ensembles specializing in early music, such as the New York Pro Musica and the Early Music Consort of London, helped popularize the repertoire
  • Composers in the 20th and 21st centuries have drawn inspiration from Medieval and Renaissance music, incorporating elements such as modality, chant-like melodies, and polyphonic textures into their works


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.