Grade-9

MUSIC
Musical Elements during the
MEDIEVAL, RENAISSANCE,&
BAROQUE Period
 Introduction
The first three periods of
Western Music History are
classified as Medieval,
Renaissance, and Baroque. Each
period has its distinctive
characteristics, historical and
cultural background.
A type of music from the
Medieval Era is Gregorian
Chant, which was mainly
used in the early Christian
church.
Music during the Renaissance
Period became an important
leisure activity. Members of the
upper class were expected to
have received musical training.
Imitative polyphony is the
distinctive characteristic of
Renaissance music.
The Baroque Period is
characterized by grand and
elaborate ornamentation of
sculptures, theaters, arts and
music. The music genres which
flourished during the Baroque
Period were the Concerto, the
Fugue, the Oratorio and the
Chorale.
Music evolved alongside
with man’s constant quest
for growth and
development.
 What to know?
In this module, you will learn
the first part of the history of
Western music. We will be
discussing the characteristic
features of each period,
composers, historical and
cultural backgrounds.
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 the Gregorian
Chants:
1) monophonic
2) Free meter
3) Modal
4) Usually based on Latin liturgy
5) Use of Neume notation
The music sheet below is a notated
Gregorian Chant written in Neumes:
C:\Users\asus\Downloads\Gregorian chant - Deum ver
um.mp4
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”.
 Troubadour Music:
Usually monophonic
Sometimes with improvised
accompaniment
Tells of chivalry and courtly love
Originated in France
Written in the French language
Famous Composer of the Medieval
Period:
Adam de la Halle
Adam de la Halle was also
known as Adam le Bossu
(Adam the Hunchback). Adam
was one of the oldest secular
composers whose literary and
musical works include chansons
and poetic debates.
His musical play, ―Jeu de Robin et Marion
was considered the earliest surviving secular
French play with music.
His works include:
1. Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion
2. La Chanson du roi de Sicile
..\..\..\Downloads
\Adam de la Halle - Le jeu de Robin et Mari
on.mp4
Music of the Renaissance Period (1400 –
1600)
Renaissance music is vocal and
instrumental music written and
performed In Europe during the
Renaissance era.
Consensus among music historians has
been to start the era around 1400’s,
with the end of the medieval era, and to
close it around 1600’s
In the Renaissance music
became a vehicle for personal
expression.
Composers found ways to
make the vocal music more
expressive of the texts they
were setting.
The Term
RENAISSAN
CE

Renaitre
Rebirt Rediscover
h y

Revival
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 acapella choral music.
The Word polyphonic comes from two Greek words.

POLY MANY

PHONIC VOICE
Characteristics of Renaissance Music:
Mostly polyphonic
Imitation among the voices is common
Use of word painting in texts and music
Melodic lines move in a flowing manner
Melodies are easier to perform because
these move along a scale with a few large
leaps
Vocal Music of the Renaissance Period
1. Mass – is a form of sacred musical
composition that sets texts of the
Eucharistic liturgy into music. Church
music from this period is almost always
acappella.
A cappella is the Italian for chapel.
Acappella music means, voices only, or
without independent accompaniment.
 Characteristics of the Mass:
Polyphonic
May be sung a cappella or with orchestral
accompaniment
Text may be SYLLABIC (one note set each
syllable)
NEUMATIC (a few notes set to one syllable)
MALISMATIC( many notes to one syllable)
 Five main section 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)
Vocal Music of the Renaissance Period
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.
Characteristics of the Madrigal
1. Polyphonic
2. Sung a cappella
3. Through–composed
4. Frequently in 3 to 6 voices
Listen to ―April Is In My Mistress„ Face” by Thomas
Morley
 REFLECTION
1. Which music are you familiar
with? Why?
2. Which songs can you relate
with? Sacred or secular music?
Why?
 Famous Composers of the Renaissance
Period
1. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Rome, 1525 - February 2, 1594
 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
is said to be the greatest master
of Roman Catholic Church
music during the Renaissance
period. Majority of his
compositions are sacred music .
2. Thomas Morley 1557 – 1602
Morley was born in Norwich, East
England, the son of a brewer. He
was a singer in the local cathedral
from his boyhood, and he became
master of choristers there in
[Link] Morley was the most
famous composer of secular music
in his time.
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:
Characteristics of Baroque Music:
Melodies sound 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,
Characteristics of Baroque Music:
Orchestra consists of strings and continuo
Harpsichord and organ are the keyboard
instruments that are commonly used.
New forms:
1. binary – AB
2. ternary – ABC
3. ground bass
4. fugue
Music Genres of Baroque Music
 Music Genres of Baroque Music
1. Concerto – A form of
orchestral music that
employs a solo
instrument accompanied
by an orchestra.
 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
small group of musical instruments
accompanied by an orchestra
3. Fugue-A music where two
or more themes are repeated in
succession
VOCAL Music
1. Oratorio –a large scale
of music for the
orchestra and the voice
with religious themes.
Example of ORATORIO-
Handels-”Messiah”
Bach-”Christmas oratorio”
Haydns-” the Creation”
2. Chorale- musical
compositions that resemble a
harmonized version of hymnal
tunes of the Protestant Church
during the Baroque era.
FAMOUS COMPOSERS

BAROQUE
1. Johann Sebastian Bach (German)
Fugue Composer
Tocatta and Fugue
2. Antonio Vivaldi (Austria) – Ill Prete
Roso or The Red Priest
FOUR SEASONS
(Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall)
3. George Friedrich Handel – the
Oratorio Master
HALLELUJAH
WATER MUSIC
END OF LESSON FOR
MUSIC