Medieval Life: From Gregorian Chants to Feudal Lords
Chronological Period of the Middle Ages
- Mark the chronological period of the Middle Ages.
- From the late 5th century to the 15th century.
Historical and Sociocultural Aspects
- Why was the cultural life of this period mainly concentrated in monasteries and abbeys?
- Because the monks cultivated the arts and sciences, using manuscripts from ancient Greece and Rome.
- On the social scene, what was Europe like in this period?
- Europe was fragmented into many small territories dominated by powerful feudal lords who fought amongst themselves.
- What were the Crusades?
- The Crusades were military expeditions led by Christian kings attempting to recover holy places in and around Jerusalem.
- This period has two stages: the Early Middle Ages and the Late Middle Ages. What artistic movement tried to inspire humanity to look to the heavens, and what did they build to symbolize this?
- The Gothic period. They built the great cathedrals.
Gregorian Chants: Sacred Music
- In what language were Gregorian chants usually sung?
- In Latin.
- Give two adjectives that best define the character of this music.
- Peaceful and relaxed.
- Why did the Church prohibit singing by women and the use of instruments?
- Because it was thought that this would distract the faithful during worship.
- What are the two main ways of singing these chants?
- Direct and responsorial.
- What were the two main styles of combining melodies with text?
- Syllabic and melismatic.
- Gregorian chants were sung at two important times. What were they?
- At Holy Mass and the Divine Office.
- What is the name of the earliest kind of polyphony, in which a second voice is added to the first at an interval of a 4th or 5th?
- Organum.
Troubadours and Secular Music
- In what language were the songs of the troubadours usually sung?
- In the vernacular language of their area (different in each country).
- What themes did they usually use?
- Knightly ideals, war, and love.
- What were the troubadours in the north of France called?
- Trouvères.
- Name one important troubadour from Spain.
- Martín Codax of Vigo or King Alfonso X ‘the Wise’.
- What were the troubadours in Germany called?
- Minnesingers.
- What was the rhythm of secular music influenced by?
- By dance.
- What was the theme of the Cantigas?
- The miracles achieved through the intervention of the Virgin Mary.
Instruments of the Middle Ages
- In Spain, what is the name of the bowed instrument sounded by turning a handle that rubs against the strings?
- Hurdy-gurdy (zanfona).
- What is a plucked string instrument of Arabic origin?
- Lute.
- What are goblet-shaped drums made of wood or ceramics, played against the shoulder?
- Darbuka.
- In the wind family, what kind of straight trumpet was used to announce the arrival of a prince or king?
- Buisine.
- In the wind family, what are Galician bagpipes decorated with the carved heads of men and animals called?
- Gaita.
Key Composers and Musical Concepts
- What is the surname of an important composer and theoretician from the Ars Nova period, who was also a diplomat and soldier?
- Philippe de Vitry.
- In contrast to the parallel motion of early organum, what kind of melodic motion does discantus use?
- Contrary motion.
- What is the name of the four-line staff used to graphically represent the notes in Gregorian chants?
- Tetragram.
- What is the surname of an important composer and theoretician from the Ars Antiqua period, who initiated the creative phase of religious polyphony?
- Léonin.
Medieval Musical Examples
Cantiga de Santa Maria: Strela do Dia
la, sol, fa, mi, mi, fa, sol, la, re, re, la, sol, fa, mi, re, mi, fa, mi, re, do, re, re; sol, la, si, la, do’, si, la, si, sol, sol, sol, la, si, la, do’, si, la, sol, la, la; si, do’, re’, si, do’, re’, do’, si, la, si, si, si, si, si, la, do’, si, la, si, sol, sol
Ay, Linda Amiga
la, la, so’, si, si, sol, la, sol, fa, mi, mi, la, la, do’, si, si, si, sol; la, sol, fa, mi, mi, do’, do’, si, sol, la, la, do’, do’, si, sol, la, mi, la, la, sol, sol; mi, re, fa, la, sol, fa, mi, mi, la, la, sol, sol, mi, re, fa, la, la, sol, la