Music in Society

How does music function in society? Sacred music– music for religious

functions

Secular music – music for entertainment or nonreligious activities

Music in Society terms

Style – the characteristic way an artwork is presented and its unique features Jazz vs. classical Rock vs. hip hop

Genre – specific categories of msuc Opera, symphony, string quartet

Medium – specific performing group Orchestra, chorus

Music Style Periods

Medieval (Middle Ages) 476-1450Renaissance 1450-1600

Baroque 1600-1750Classical 1750-1825Romantic 1825-1900

Twentieth Century 1901-present

Ancient Greece, The Middle Ages, Renaissance

Ancient Greece No written music survives from ancient Greece.

Music was largely an oral tradition and improvised.

One rare example from the 2nd century “Epitaph of Seikilos” was found carved on a

tombstone.

Pythagoras

Ancient GreeceAncient Greek instruments include the lyre and

aulos

Medieval Period500-1450

This historical time period has been wrongly termed the dark ages most likely due to religious wars and extensive famine and disease.

MedievalVisual art of the time lacks perspective, is flat

and exudes a certain aspect of weightlessness.

Illuminated Manuscripts

16th century Lament

Medieval Music

The large majority of music in the Middle ages is sacred.

Sacred chant instructed the attendees who were mostly illiterate.

Although some secular music existed at the time, almost none survives today.

The Age of Gothic Cathedrals

Medieval Music

Characteristics of Medieval MusicMost surviving music is largely vocal.Modes –Early types of scales used in the composition

of Medieval church music. Modes are the predecessors to modern major and minor scales.

Gregorian Chant – a cappella (unaccompanied) voices singing in unison. Chant rhythms follow the flow of the text. Also called plainsong and plain chant.

Medieval Music

Gregorian Chant is named after Pope Gregory I who organized the use of chant in Christian churches. He is not know as a writer of chant but as a promoter of chant.

Types of chant: syllabic and melismatic.Syllabic chant has a note for every syllable of the text.Melismatic chant has many notes for a single syllable of

text.

Syllabic Chant

Melismatic Chant

Medieval Music Changes

The MassProper settings of the Mass – Changed depending on the season, i.e., Easter, Christmas.

Ordinary – The standard 5 sections of the Mass which can be celebrated on any day of the year.

Requiem Mass – Mass for a memorial. Mass for a funeral.

Medieval Music Changes

The MassOrdinary – the standard 5 sections of the Mass which can

be celebrated on any day of the year.

Kyrie – Lord have mercy upon usGloria – Glory be to God on highCredo – I believe in one GodSanctus – Holy, holy, holyAngus Dei – Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the

world

Hint: King George Can See Angels

Medieval ComposerHildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

12th-century German AbbessVisual artist, music composer, healer, alchemist.

Youngest of 10 children Given to a monastery as a tithe at age 8. Often ill and had visions at a young age.

Hildegard attributed all her gifts to her visions from God.

Cloister – a place of religious seclusion Monastery – men Convent - women

Hildegard of Bingen

Founded 2 convents Composed religious poetry with music Her gifts were recognized by the Pope She was allowed to preach before mixed

crowds Wrote one of the earliest entirely sung

morality plays, Ordo Virtutum (order of the virtues).

Medieval MusicEarly polyphony arose in the 9th century when

monks added a line of melody parallel to the original chant.

This early polyphony is called organum. Page 85 – an example of organum

Medieval Secular Music

Few examples survive Court music

Troubadours, trouvèves, minnesingers Instrumental music was highly improvised Dance music was the main genre

Medieval Secular Music French Ars Nova – New art; new

developments in all aspects of musicA move toward secular themesArs Antiqua – Old art

Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)Premier composer of Ars NovaWrote both sacred and secular musicWrote in fixed poetic forms

Rondeau, ballade, virelai Chanson – French word for song

Musical setting of the fixed poems Page 91

Late Medieval Humanism Humanism takes hold, which acknowledged

human achievement.

People began to view themselves as more than mere vehicles for God.

Visual art began to depict depth and perspective and music became more expressive as well through the expansion of harmony.

The Renaissance 1450-1600

Renaissance is a French word that means “rebirth”

It is a time of learning and the creation of art

It is a time when humanism roseHumanism – the recognition of human

achievement

The Renaissance 1450-1600

All areas of culture were being explored: Geographic, scientific, religious, visual arts,

literature and music. Secularism on the rise. Art becomes appreciated for its own sake, not

just a vehicle of the church.

The Renaissance 1450-1600

Important Impacts on Music Florence, Italy considered the heart of the

Renaissance. Gutenberg’s invention of movable type

extremely significant during this time. Protestant Reformation Counter Reformation and the Council of Trent

Francesco Melzi

Sacred Music & Women

In the 4th century the Christian church adopted the teachings of Paul the Apostle “Women are to remain silent.”

Women were banned from music making during mixed public worship. But, cloistered environments provided women the opportunity to create and participate in music.

The Renaissance 1450-1600 Similar to the Middle Ages, much of the music of the

Renaissance is religious and vocal. Most often a cappella. Without accompaniment

The predominant texture in the Renaissance is polyphony – know as the Golden Age of Polyphony.

Renaissance Sacred Music

Renaissance Motet – A polyphonic, vocal piece, often religious, intended for worship.

Motets incorporate word painting in order to express the meaning of the text.

For example, using a rising melody when the text mentions heaven, or a leaping melody when the text mentions “my heart leaps up.”

Opening

• Renaissance motet• 4 voices (SATB)• Continuous imitation

Josquin: Ave Maria . . . virgo serena

Martin Luther

In 1517 Catholic monk and theologian Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses (or complaints) on the door of his Catholic parish, thus starting the Protestant Reformation.Every aspect of worship was eventually

affected, especially music

Renaissance Sacred MusicProtestant Worship Music

Some of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses addressed music.People should participate in music for worship.He promoted the use of vernacular in worship

music.

The Counter-Reformation

The Catholic Church re-evaluated their indiscretions in what became know as the Counter-Reformation.The establishment of the Council of Trent was

a commission of cardinals whose job was church reform.

Some reformers sought to eliminate music from Catholic services entirely.

Giovanni PalestrinaGiovanni Palestrina (1524-94)

Often given the credit for saving polyphony in the Catholic Church.

A student of Josquin Desprez Wrote in a simplified polyphonic style with

easy to sing melodies.

How Palestrina Saved Polyphony in the Church.

He used straightforward harmonies rather than the highly dissonant sounds of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance.

He avoided extremes in his music. His Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus

Mass), pg. 106,107, depicts the essence of the Renaissance Mass.

Palestrina: Pope Marcellus Mass, Gloria

Renaissance Secular Music Madrigal – A through-composed, polyphonic

vocal piece written in the vernacular language and containing a secular theme for the text.Madrigals are less formal than motets and were

meant for entertainment.Madrigalism is the term for expressive word

painting used extensively in madrigals.

Renaissance Secular Music

MadrigalsBegan in Italy but by the late 16th century became

popular in England.

John Farmer (1591-1601) – writer of English madrigals

Fair Phyllis on page 112

Farmer: Fair Phyllis

Song of the Birds – Page 155

Close your eyes and try to imagine birds

Renaissance Secular Music

Instrumental Music The most popular instrument was the Lute

A predecessor to the guitar.Difficult to play and tune.

Early Instrumental Music

Mandolin

Lute

Vielle

Early Instrumental Music

Dulcimer

Psaltery

Renaissance Secular Music

Wind Instruments The Recorder The predominant wind instrument of the

Renaissance. Comes in various sizes.

Renaissance Secular Music

Instrumental Ensembles were small during the Renaissance.

Ensembles were made up of instruments all of one family. i.e., all brass, all strings, all recorders.

These ensembles are called consorts.

Renaissance Secular MusicWomen Musicians

Most women did not receive any formal education. Noble women though, were expected to have some

musical abilities as part of proper etiquette. Instruments suitable for women:

Viol Lute Psaltery Harp Various keyboard instruments