MUSIC OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD

MEDIEVAL PERIOD (700 – 1400)

- Is also known as the “Middle Ages or Dark Ages”.
- 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.
WHAT IS MONOPHONIC PLAINCHANT?
- Is the simplest of musical textures, consisting of a melody (or "tune"), typically sung by a single singer or played by a single instrument player.
- GREGORIAN CHANT
GREGORIAN CHANT
- Official sacred music of the roman catholic church for over 1000 years.
- Influenced by the Byzantium encompassing Turkey, Palestine and Syria.
BRANCHES OF CHANTS:
1. MOZARABIC CHANT- it was used in Spain and was influenced by the moors who invaded the Iberian Peninsula.
2. BYZANTINE CHANT- it became the official chant of the Greek Orthodox Church.
3. GALLICAN CHANT- it was used by the Franks (members of the Germanic tribes that establish the Frankish empires) until the 8 th century.
4. AMBROSIAN CHANT- it was well-known for its hymns and antiphonal singing.
5. GREGORIAN CHANT- it dominated all other Western Plainchant. It was organized by Pope Gregory the Great.
Characteristics of the Gregorian Chants:
· monophonic
· Free meter
· Usually based on Latin liturgy
· Use of Neume notation
-Modal i.e based on church modes
WHAT IS NEUME?
- A of various symbols or sign used in the Gregorian chant. Usually stood for two to four notes.
CHURCH MODE
- As previously mentioned, the Gregorian Chants are basically Modal. That means they are based on church modes.
- In the traditional system of eight modes (in use from the 8th century up to 1547) there are four pairs, each pair comprising an authentic mode and a plagal mode.

1. Authentic mode - The authentic modes were the odd-numbered modes, 1, 3, 5, 7.

2. Plagal mode- were the even-numbered modes 2,4,6,8.
During the latter part of the Medieval Period, secular music which was not bound by Catholic traditions emerged.
Performers of secular song during Middle Ages were the travelling minstrels. In France, they are called jongleurs, in Germany Gaukler, and in England gleemen.
In France, the Medieval Secular songs are written by poet-musicians called trobadours and trouveres. They were educated and cultured men from the nobility class residing in
the feudal courts.
Poetry made by these poet-musicians is divided into the following categories:
 1. PLANH- a lament on the death of a distinguished person.
2. CHANSON DE TOILE- a spinning song
3. PASTOURELLE- a sng in dialogue between a knight and shepherdess
4. CHANSON DE GESTE- a narrative poetry with extraordinary characters
5. CANSO- a poem of love
6. TENSO- a poem in the form of a dialogue
7. SIRVENTES AND ENEUG- poems that use sarcasm in exposing follies
8. AUBE- the song of a friend watching over love

Adam de la Halle was also known as Adam le Bossu (Adam the Hunchback). He was the son of a well – known citizen of Arras, Henri de la Halle. He received his education at the
Cistercian Abbey of Vaucelles, near Cambral. Adam was destined for the church but he eventually married. His patrons were Robert II, Count of Artois, and Charles of Anjou,
brother of Louis IX.
Adam was one of the oldest secular composers whose literary and musical works include chansons and poetic debates. He was a French-born trouvére, poet and musician,
whose literary and musical works include chansons and jeux-partis (poetic debates) in the style of the trouveres, polyphonic rondel and motets in the style of early liturgical
polyphony. 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