Medieval Period Music (400–1400 CE) ● Early medieval music was monophonic (single

melody line).
Western music and religious music began in Europe
during the Medieval Period, also called the Middle Ages. ● This development led to polyphony (multiple
This era followed the fall of the Roman Empire and independent melodic lines).
preceded the Renaissance. Despite war and unrest, much Guillaume de Machaut (ca. 1300–1377)
of the music was religious. Choirs expressed faith through
sacred melodies, and the arts flourished by the 13th ● A French poet and composer, pronounced
century. "mah-sho".

Music in this period included songs for knights and ● First to compose a complete polyphonic Mass
nobles, as well as chants for priests during Christian Ordinary.
services. However, only Church music was well-
● Used Ars Nova techniques, especially:
preserved. Monks read, wrote, and developed a system to
notate music, allowing sacred music to be passed down. o Isorhythm – a repeated rhythmic pattern
across one or more voices.
Vocal Music
● His work represents the transition from
Gregorian Chant
Medieval to early Renaissance music.
● Gregorian Chant was the official music of the
Organum: The Birth of Polyphony
Roman Catholic Church, named after Pope
Gregory I. ● Organum is an early form of polyphonic (multi-
voice) music developed from Gregorian chant.
● Also known as plainsong or plainchant.
● Introduced by Léonin and Pérotin, composers of
● Sung in sacred Latin text, without instruments (a
the Notre Dame School in the 12th century.
cappella).
● Organum features:
● Monophonic texture: all voices sing in unison, no
harmony or counterpoint. o A Gregorian chant sung by a soloist.
● Melody moves step-by-step in a narrow range, o One or more melodic lines added above
avoiding wide leaps and contrasts. the chant, often in parallel motion.
● Rhythm is free and flexible, like speech. ● Example: Pérotin’s Viderunt Omnes – a classic
● Originally passed on orally, but later written down
example of organum, shown in both neumatic
by monks to preserve and teach it. and modern notation.

Cantus Firmus and Gregorian Notation (Medieval Key Composers:

Period) ● Léonin (Leoninus):
● Cantus Firmus means "fixed song." It refers to a o First known composer of polyphonic
pre-existing melodic line used as the basis for music. He's active in the late 12th
polyphonic compositions. century. He also gained fame for writing
Pope Gregory I early two-part organum.

● Known as the "Father of Christian Worship." ● Pérotin:

● Credited with organizing and standardizing o Successor of Léonin. He expanded

Church music during the Medieval period. organum to three or four voices. He also
advanced rhythmic organization and
● Gregorian Chant is named in his honor. complexity in medieval music.
Church Modes Connection to Music Periods
● The church modes were early musical scales ● These innovations in organum and polyphony
used in sacred and secular music. mark a turning point in Western music.
● Each mode includes seven tones plus the octave ● They helped transition music from the
(the first note repeated higher). monophonic chants of the Medieval Period to
the more complex textures of the Renaissance
● They differ in patterns of whole and half steps.
and Baroque periods, where harmony,
● There are 8 modes, divided into: structure, and expressive depth flourished.

Authentic modes: Motet: A Key Development in Early Polyphony

● Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian ● By the 13th century, composers added multiple
vocal lines above a plainchant (Gregorian chant),
Plagal modes (prefix "hypo-" means lower): forming three- or four-voice compositions.
● Hypodorian, Hypophrygian, Hypolydian, ● These richly textured compositions were called
Hypomixolydian motets.
Development of Melody
 ● The term "motet" comes from the French word ● Unlike vocal music, it was mostly improvised
mot (meaning "word") — referring to the and rarely written down—similar to jazz today.
additional words added to the vocal lines.
● Though vocal music was dominant in art music,
Religious and Secular Uses instruments began to be used more in festivities
● Motets were used in both sacred (church) and and court events.
secular (non-religious) settings. Troubadours
● Religious motets continued sacred traditions. ● Troubadours were poet-composers from
● Secular motets explored love, chivalry, and southern France, northern Spain, and Italy.
everyday life. ● Active during the 12th and 13th centuries, they
Guillaume de Machaut’s Contributions composed and performed courtly love songs and
chivalric music.
● A master of the secular motet.
● The word troubadour comes from trobar meaning
● Incorporated Ars Nova techniques: “to compose” or “to find.”
o Greater rhythmic variety ● They traveled from village to village, performing
for both nobles and commoners.
o More flexible structures
Trouvères and Minnesingers
● Helped expand the motet into a more expressive
and versatile form. ● Trouvères were the northern French
counterparts of the southern troubadours.
Motet (13th Century Early Polyphonic Music)
● Their influence extended to Germany, where
● A motet is a polyphonic vocal composition similar composer-performers were called
developed by adding two or more voices above a Minnesingers.
plainchant (tenor), resulting in three- or four-
part textures. ● Their songs focused on themes like love,
crusades, dances, and spinning songs.
● The term "motet" comes from the French word
mot (meaning "word"), as new texts were added ● Their music was notated without rhythm.
to the upper vocal lines.
Minstrels or Jongleurs
● In isorhythmic motets, the tenor uses a repeating
● Minstrels/Jongleurs were traveling performers
rhythmic pattern (talea) and sometimes a
of low social status.
repeating melodic pattern (color).
● They entertained with acrobatics, animal acts,
● The upper voices often had different texts than
and musical performances.
the tenor, creating complex musical and textual
layers. ● Often played instruments like fiddles, harps, and
lutes, performing music written by others.
● Motets were written for both religious and
secular purposes, reflecting the separation of Adam de la Halle (ca. 1245–1288)
sacred and non-sacred themes.
● A French trouvère, also known as Adam le
● Guillaume de Machaut perfected the secular Bossu ("the Hunchback").
motet, applying Ars Nova innovations like
greater rhythmic variety and flexibility. ● Composed rondeaux, chansons, motets, and
jeux-partis (poetic dialogues).
Mass in the Medieval Period
● Famous for his musical play Le Jeu de Robin et
● The Mass is the central worship service of the de Marion, considered the first surviving secular
Roman Catholic Church. French play with music.
● Early composers only set music to parts of the ● Integrated songs, dances, games, and
Proper of the Mass (texts that vary by feast day). instrumental melodies into his work—still
appreciated today.
● The Ordinary of the Mass includes unchanging
texts sung daily: Renaissance Music (14th–16th Century)
o Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Overview
Dei.
● "Renaissance" means "rebirth" (from the
● Guillaume de Machaut was the first to compose Italian rinascimento).
a complete polyphonic setting of the Mass
Ordinary, shaping it into a unified musical ● Originated in Florence, Italy and lasted from the
work. 14th to 16th centuries.

● His "Kyrie" is one of the most famous examples. ● Known as the "Golden Age of Polyphony" — a
shift from monophony to polyphonic music
Instrumental Music (multiple melodic lines).
● In the 14th century, instrumental music gained Cultural and Social Context
importance.
 ● Period of exploration and creativity (e.g., ● Features polyphonic imitation:
Columbus, Magellan, Da Vinci).
o A melodic phrase is sung first by the
● The Church’s influence declined, while soprano, then imitated by alto, tenor, and
aristocrats and educated classes gained bass voices.
importance.
Renaissance Mass and Sacred Composers
● Education became a status symbol, and music
was part of a well-rounded education. Renaissance Secular Music
● Secular music included:
● Musical printing allowed wider distribution and
growth of choirs, composers, and musicians. o Purely vocal works
Musical Characteristics o Voice with instrumental
● Vocal music remained more important than accompaniment
instrumental music. ● Growth of solo instrumental music, especially
● Word painting was used: music that reflects the for keyboard and lute.
text’s meaning and emotion. Madrigal (16th Century)
● Polyphonic texture was dominant (4–6 ● A polyphonic, expressive form of secular vocal
independent voices). music.
● Imitation (repetition of melodic lines across ● Originated in Italy, later flourished in England.
voices) was common.
● Written in the vernacular (native language), not
● Homophonic texture (chordal style) appeared in Latin.
dance music.
● Texts were short poems about:
● Renaissance music had a fuller and richer sound
compared to Medieval music. o Love, politics, or everyday life

Renaissance Vocal Music Summary ● Known for elegance, word painting, and
emotional expression.
A Cappella Style
Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643)
● Renaissance music is mostly choral and
unaccompanied, known as a cappella. ● Helped transition the madrigal into the Baroque
era.
● This era is called the "Golden Age of A
Cappella". ● Developed a richer, more dramatic style of
madrigal.
● Instruments were not essential, but sometimes
used to double vocal lines or substitute missing Thomas Morley (ca. 1557–1602)
voices.
● A leading English Renaissance composer and
● Very few pieces were written exclusively for theorist.
instruments during this time.
● Organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Sacred Music Forms
● Known as a major figure of the English Madrigal
● Two main sacred vocal forms: School.

1. Mass – A longer composition with 5 ● In 1588, published Musica Transalpina, a

fixed parts: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, collection of Italian madrigals with English
Sanctus, Agnus Dei lyrics.

2. Motet – A sacred choral piece with a ● This work popularized the madrigal in England.
Latin text, not part of the Mass Ordinary.
● He received his Bachelor of Music from Oxford
● Both forms are polyphonic and similar in style, University and got a license to print music in
but the mass is more extended. 1598.

Josquin des Prez (c. 1450–1521) Musical Terms

● A Franco-Flemish composer highly influential in ● Stile concitato – an agitated style

Renaissance music.
● Tremolo – a trembling effect in music
● Worked in Italy (papal choir, private chapels) and
● Pizzicato – plucking the strings (especially in
France.
string instruments)
● Admired by many, including Martin Luther.
Summary: Renaissance Music – Key Figures &
● Famous for his motets, masses, and secular works. Concepts

Example: Ave Maria Thomas Morley (ca. 1557–1602)

● A sacred motet composed by Josquin. ● Known as the "Father of the English

Madrigal."
 ● Famous for popularizing the English madrigal
style.
● Published Musica Transalpina – a collection of
Italian madrigals with English lyrics.
● Also composed instrumental music, including
keyboard works.
Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643)
● Served at the court of the Duke of Mantua and
later became choirmaster at St. Mark’s Basilica
in Venice (1613).
● Composed motets, operas, ballets, madrigals,
and sacred music.
● Introduced emotional intensity and drama to
music.
● Created the stile concitato (agitated style), using
effects like:
o Tremolo (trembling strings)

o Pizzicato (plucked strings)

● Believed that "the text should be the master of the

music, not the servant."
Smart Check (Key Terms Recap)
1. Stile concitato – "Agitated style" invented by
Monteverdi
2. Late Renaissance Madrigal – Featured
chromatic harmony, vocal virtuosity, and
emotional word painting
3. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Significant
Italian composer devoted to church music
4. Musica Transalpina – Morley’s publication of
Italian madrigals with English texts
5. Polyphony – Simultaneous combination of
multiple independent melodic lines
Going Beyond: Leonardo da Vinci’s Musical Legacy
● Known as the "Renaissance Man" for his wide
talents.
● Famous for Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

● Also a musical inventor, having designed the

viola organista — a keyboard instrument
combining features of string and bowed
instruments.
● Shows that Renaissance genius spanned multiple
disciplines, including music.