Music - Grade 9

Quarter 1- Module 1: Music of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque Period

Lesso

n 1 Music of Medieval Period

Music of the Medieval Period (700-1400)

The Medieval period is also known as the Middle Ages or “Dark Ages” that started with the fall
of the Roman Empire. During this time, the Christian Church influenced Europe’s culture and
political affairs.
Monophonic plainchant was named after Pope Gregory I, who made this the approved music of
the Catholic Church. Pope Gregory’s action made monophonic plainchants popular. Although it
was originally transmitted orally, scholars agreed to put it in notation to assist dissemination of
chants across Europe.

Characteristics of Gregorian Chants:

• Monophonic - refers to only one note sounding at a time

• Free Meter - a type of musical meter free from musical time and time signature
• Modal - of or denoting music using melodies or harmonies based on modes other than
the ordinary major and minor scales
• Usually based on Latin liturgy
Latin liturgy – is a ceremony or ritual conducted in the latin language usually
associated in a catholic mass
• Use of Neume notation
Neume - (in plainsong) a note or group of notes to be sung to a single syllable.

The music sheet notated Gregorian Chant written in Neumes:

Description: The Introit

Gaudeamus Omnes, scripted in
square notation.
Date: 14th century – 15th
century

During the latter part of the Medieval Period, secular music which was not bound by Catholic
traditions emerged. Most of these songs were performed across Europe by groups of musicians
called Troubadours.

Characteristics of Troubadour Music:

• Usually monophonic
• Sometimes with improvised accompaniment
• Tells of chivalry and country love
• Duplication of the France music
• Written in French language
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Famous Composer of the Medieval Period:

Adam de la Halle (France, 1237-1288)

• Also known as Adam le Bossu (Adam the Hunchback)

• Son of a well-known citizen of Arras, Henri de la Halle

• He received his education at the Cistercian Abbey of

Vaucelles.

• He was a trouvere, poet, and musician.

• His literary and musical works include chanson and jeux-partis (poetic debates),
trouveres, polyphonic rondel, and motels of early liturgical polyphony.
[Link] • His musical play: Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion
(considered the earliest surviving secular French play with music)
and La Chanson du roi de Sicile.
Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion
[Link] La Chanson du
roi de Sicile [Link]

Lesso
Music of Renaissance
n 2 Period

What’s New & What Is It?

Music of the Renaissance Period (1400 – 1600)

The term “Renaissance” comes from the word “renaitre” which means “rebirth”, “revival” and
“rediscovery”. The Renaissance Period is a period of “looking back” to the Golden Age of Greece
and Rome.
The invention of printing in the 1400’s paved the way for a wide distribution of renaissance
compositions. With the emergence of the bourgeois class, renaissance music became popular
as entertainment and activity for amateurs and the educated. Lute was the prominent
instrument of the Renaissance era. The influence of the Roman Catholic Church started to
decline as the new music genre arose. Though sacred music was still of great importance,
secular music became more prominent in the Renaissance period. This era was also known as
the “golden age” of a capella choral music.

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Other historical facts during this era is the discovery of the actual position of earth in the solar
system by Copernicus, the invention of compass creating a wider navigation not only of the
lands but also of the oceans, and Martin Luther’s Protestant reformation.

Vocal Music of the Renaissance Period

1. Mass – is a form of sacred musical composition that sets texts of the eucharistic liturgy
into music.

• Polyphonic in nature and has melodic style

• May be sung in a cappella or with orchestral accompaniment
• Text may be syllabic (one note set to each syllable), neumatic (a few notes set to one
syllable), or melismatic (many notes to one syllable)

Five Main Sections of Mass:

1. Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)

2. Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest)
3. Credo (I Believe in One God)
4. Sanctus and Benedictus (Holy, holy and Blessed Is He)
5. Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

2. Madrigal - a secular vocal polyphonic music composition which originated from Italy. It
is written and expressed in a poetic text and sung during courtly social gatherings. It is
the most important secular form during the Renaissance period.
• Polyphonic
• Sung a cappella
• Through–composed
• Frequently in 3 to 6 voices

Famous Composers of the Renaissance Period

1. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (Rome 1525 - February 2, 1594)

• The greatest master of Roman Catholic Church

music

• Majority of his compositions are sacred music

• His career reflects his commitment to the music of the church
• Palestrina’s Pope Marcellus Mass is held up as the perfect example of counter -
reformation style. Kyrie is part of the first two sections of the Pope Marcellus Mass
• He was an organist and choir masters both at the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's. He
also
served as an organist in St. Agapito
• He had planned to become a priest but eventually changed his mind and married a
wealthy widow. This improved his wealth and

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 [Link] enabled him
to pursue a musical career for the
rluigi_da_Palestrina rest of his life

Kyrie (Excerpt from “Pope Marcellus Mass) [Link]

[Link]

2. Thomas Morley (1557 – 1602)

• Morley was born in (Norwich, East England), the son of

a brewer.
• a singer in the local cathedral from his boyhood and
master of choristers in 1583
• the most famous composer of secular music
• He received his bachelor’s degree in Oxford and
became an organist at St. Paul’s in London
• Musica Transalpina, his collection of Italian madrigals
fitted with English text, was published in 1588 by
Nicholas Yonge
• Shortly after, he began publishing his own collections
of madrigals and made significant
[Link] contribution to the history of music.

His works include:

• “Fire, Fire, My Heart”
• “Sing and Chant It”
• “Fantasie”
• “April Is In My Mistress Face”
• “It Was A Lover and His Lass”

Lesso

n 3 Music of Baroque Period

What’s New & What Is It?

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Music of the Baroque Period (1685 – 1750)

The word Baroque is derived from the Portuguese word “barroco” which means “pearl of
irregular shape”. Some of the great composers of this time were George Friedrich Handel,
Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio, Monteverdi, and Antonio Vivaldi.
During this time, the arts highlighted grandiose and elaborate ornamentation. These were
clearly seen in the musical compositions created by Baroque composers. New instrumental
techniques and changes in musical notation were developed. Major and minor tonality was also
created in this period. A lot of the musical terms and concepts that evolved in this era are still
used today.

Characteristics of Baroque Music:

• Melodies sounds elaborate and ornamental

• Melodies are not easy to sing or remember
• Primarily contrapuntal textures with some homophony
• Dynamic contrast – alternation between loud and soft
• Music genres - Operas, Oratorios, Suites, Tocatas, Concertó Grosso, Fugue
• Orchestra consists of strings and continuo
• Harpsichord and organ are the keyboard instruments that are commonly used

Musical Genres of Baroque Music

1. Concerto – a form of orchestral music that employs a solo instrument accompanied by an

orchestra. [Link]

2. Concerto Grosso - a form of orchestral music during the Baroque Period wherein the music
is between a small group of solo instruments called concertino and the whole orchestra
called tutti. [Link]

3. Fugue
• A contrapuntal piece, developed mainly by imitative counterpoint
• It is usually written in 3 or 4 parts, with a main theme called ‘’subject’’
• The entire piece grows mainly from a single brief tune of strong musical character
[Link]

4. Oratorio – a large scale musical composition for orchestra and voices that incorporates
narratives on religious themes. Unlike usual theatrical works, this is usually performed
without the use of costumes, scenery, or action. It is usually written in the native language
for the intended audience.
[Link]

5. Chorale – musical compositions that resemble a harmonized version of hymnal tunes of the
Protestant Church during the Baroque era
[Link]

Famous Composers of the Baroque Period

1. Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany, March 21, 1685 to July 28, 1750)

[Link]
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 • Bach’s beautiful soprano singing voice helped him to be accepted at a school in
Luӥeberg.
• Bach focused his attention to playing the violin and harpsichord
• His most important and long – term position was a ‘’cantor” at St. Thomas Church
• His work includes Brandenburg Concertos, Mass in B minor, Cantata 208 and 211, Fugue
in G minor, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Works for clavichord and harpsichord

His works include:

Concerto Grosso
• Brandenburg Concertos (concerto grosso) [Link]
• Mass in B minor
• Cantata 208 and 211
• Fugue in G minor [Link]
• Toccata and Fugue in D minor
• Works for clavichord and harpsichord

2. Antonio Vivaldi Venice (March 4, 1678 to July 28, 1741)

• Nicknamed il Prete, Rosso ("The Red Priest") because of his red hair
• An Italian Baroque composer, a Catholic priest, and a virtuoso violinist
• known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well
as sacred choral works and over forty operas
• His most famous piece is “The Four Seasons.” This composition is a series of four violin
concerti the seasons of “Spring,
[Link] Summer, Autumn, and Winter’’

Listen to the link below that features “Spring” (one of the four parts of The Four Seasons)
[Link]

3. George Friedrich Händel Germany

February 23, 1685 to London, April 14, 1759

• At age 7, he gained access to a church organ

and started to play.
• He is remembered for his operas and oratorios
and became England’s favorite composer.
• Handel lost both of his eyesight in 1753. When
he conducted his oratorio, “Samson”, a few in
the audience were unaware that he had lost his
eyesight.

[Link]
 • The “Messiah” is Hӓndel’s most famous creation and the very well
known “Hallelujah Chorus” is part of Hӓndel’s “Messiah” and was written in the
space of twenty-four days in London, but it was in Dublin when the “Messiah” was first
performed and became an instant success.

Listen to the link below that features “Hallelujah Chorus” [Link]