Notes:

Listening Questions

1. Share your overall impression of the music of Medieval times. My overall impression of Medieval music is that it was typically polyphonic and made use of pitch variation. In early medieval times, plainchants were sung in church using reciting tones, but later on melismas and polyphonic textures became the norm. All music still had a story or purpose, wether or not it was religious.

2. How does Medieval music sound similar to the music of Ancient Times? Plainchant sounds similar to the music of Ancient times, due to the lack of pitch variation and non-metrical style. 

3. How does Medieval music sound different from the music of Ancient Times? The polyphonic textures common in Medieval times was not used previously. The new use of duple meters and secular music also created many differences. 

 

• Compare and Contrast Musical Elements of Ave Maris StellaLinks to an external site. (Sacred) & TrottoLinks to an external site. (Secular)

1. Mood Ave Maris Stella has a mood of remembrance, as if they are paying homage to someone or something. On the other hand, Trotto is very upbeat, as if it was meant to be danced to. 

2. Tempo Ave Maris Stella is rather slow, especially compared to the fast paced Trotto. 

3. Rhythm Ave Maris Stella has repeating four bar rhythmic patterns with varying voices singing, with the recurring use of melismas. It is monophonic. Trotto, on the other hand, is homophonic and includes much more rhythmic variation. A clear motif is present, but unlike Ava Maris Stella there are B and C sections.  

4. Purpose Ava Maris Stella is a sacred song and it can be assumed it was sung in Church or at religious celebrations. Totto, as a secular song, was most likely used as entertainment or for dance. 

Guido, Hildegard and Friends

1. Provide approximate dates for the Middle Ages punctuated with notable world/historical events LinkLinks to an external site.

2. Describe various characteristics that distinguish sacred music from secular music during the Middle Ages While sacred music tends to be monophonic and chant-like (eg. Gregorian chant, plainchant) with some exceptions. Polyphonic texture was used later on, as well as melismas, but sacred music can be seen as rather "plain" compared to secular music. On the other hand, secular music is commonly lively, upbeat, dance-like etc. and uses a wider variety of instruments. Secular music went about the same change from monophonic to polyphonic. 

3. Describe the 5 parts of the Ordinary of the Mass(latin names for each section and their basic translations)

   I. Kyrie --> Lord, have mercy II. Gloria --> Glory III. Credo --> "I believe" IV. Sanctus and Benedictus --> Holy and Blessed V. Agnus Dei --> Lamb of God

4. Distinguish between syllabic, neumatic and melismatic chant style

   Syllabic: The style of chant which sets one note to each syllable (no melismas). Neumatic: Plainsong where each syllable is sung as two to four notes. Melismatic: a single syllable of text is sung through many notes. 

5. Provide a few nuggets of trivia regarding the history of Guido D'Arezzo. 

   He developed staff notation and the early version of do-re-mi.  He also created the Guidonian Hand

6. Provide a few nuggets of trivia regarding the Guidonian Hand.

   The Guidonian Hand was a device used to teach singers to sight-sing. Each portion of the hand represented a specific note within the hexachord system; this was helpful because it allowed singers to visualize intervals. 

7. Explain the various features of this Links to an external site.Cool ResourceLinks to an external site.

This resource shows you each hexachord on the Guidonian Hand (and plays it for you!) with a click of a button. It also plays a excerpt of music.

1. Describe your observations regarding the use of this  Guidonian Hand DemonstrationLinks to an external site.

This is so complex and requires a great deal of memorization. He knew exactly what note went with each knuckle, however, I noticed when he pointed to the same knuckle he sang different notes. It seems that the fingers are each different steps in a scale, and then moving up a finger it also moves in steps on the pinky. 

Step 2

• To what extent does pitch vary throughout this Gregorian ChantLinks to an external site.? While they moved around on each syllable quite a lot, the overall range of pitch used was rather limited. 

 

Step 3

• Describe similarities and differences between the Gregorian Chant above and the music of HildegardLinks to an external site. The immediate differences noticed are the fact that the above chant was all male voices and had no instrumental accompaniment while Hildegard is a single female voice with a stringed instrument. Both use melisma consistently. Hildegard eventually becomes polyphonic in texture between different instrumental and vocal parts, unlike the monophonic chant above. 

Step 4

• How do changes in pitch reflect changes in mood in this organum by LeoninLinks to an external site.

The changes in pitch reflect changes in mood as the beginning of the piece has a flowy melodic line with pitch changes in sets of threes or fours. This sets on top of chords (more like tonal centers as there is only one note) in the tenor voice. These changes are mostly within the key and are quite up lifting. Other times there are half step changes  (like last 8 notes on first line) that stand out with a more somber mood. The key change (or the medieval equivalent to one) in the third line creates a few moments of that catch the listeners attention (due to the use of B natural) and some dissonance (some lines resolve to an A while the tenor voice is singing a G). 

Step 5

• Describe musical elements in terms of what is represented and what is not in this example by Guillaume de MachautLinks to an external site.

(Musical Elements; Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.)

Pitch: rather high, female voice

Rhythm: triple meter, melismas used often, rhythmic patterns repeated

Dynamics: flute and vocals are main lines (loudest/stand out), bowed line comes out many times between vocal lines, plucked line is supportive and tends to be the quietest 

Tempo: fast but not racing, melodic 

Texture: polyphonic

Timbre: flute (kind of shrill, stood out) , strings (smooth like a cello), plucked (I imagine a lyre, rather pointed) , vocals 

Form: A B A, strophic? I looked it up and it says randeau (alternating singing and instrumental sections)

Purpose: some sort of entertainment; secular purpose 

Harmony: none, all lines are distinct 

Melody: three separate lines, flute, plucked, strings

Expression: you can hear the bowed and plucked line come out every time vocals take a break, the vocals are extremely expressive and tend to emphasize certain syllables and back off as they descend in pitch. 

Mood: upbeat and light, 

Language: French, many phrases repeated

Style: multiple polyphonic voiced repeating similar melodic lines over and over, possibly an example of Estampie. 

• Bonus Video:  Orlando Consort describes Guillaume Machaut Links to an external site.as the "James Taylor" of his day.

In Search of Summer and The Holy Grail

Step 1

• Provide a brief description of this Neume NotationLinks to an external site.; observations, patterns, etc. Straight line represent a full beat and curves represent divisions of beats. Dots represent pitch rising or falling. 

• Describe differences between Medieval Notation Neumes & Modern Notation NotesLinks to an external site. in terms of shapes, lines and colors In both notations, the dots position on the staff (up/down) represent pitch. However, the medical notation does not use beams or dynamic markings. Instead the different color text represent words and phrasing (distinctively). 

• Demonstrate 3 Chant Styles using the template found in this Neume ProjectLinks to an external site.

Step 2

• Provide a brief narrative on Sumer is a Cumin InLinks to an external site.; history, trivia, manuscript, significance, text, etc.

Composed in the middle of the 13th Century, Sumer is a Cumin In survived in only one manuscript made in Oxford. There are two lyrical variations, one in Middle English (celebrating spring) and Latin (religious connotation), making it both secular and sacred. The song is a "rota", meaning cannon in unison. This piece might have been used to celebrate Midsummer's Day, or other similar season-changing-celebrations. 

Step 3

• Use this scene from Monty Python and the Holy GrailLinks to an external site. to answer the following questions

1. Is this an example of a sacred Gregorian Chant or a secular Estampie? This is a Gregorian Chant because, although there is melodic repetition, there is no lively mood nor triple meter to suggest it is an Estampie. 

2. What is the language of this text? The language is Latin. 

3. Is the texture monophonic, heterophonic, homophonic or polyphonic? The texture is monophonic; there is only one melodic line and all voices move at the same intervals. 

4. Bonus trivia; Describe the Church Mode and use of Organum: This is an Organum because multiple voices are singing harmony in a plainchant. However, since all are moving at the same intervals at the same time, it is still monophonic. While I am unsure of which church mode is being used, I can definitely tell one of them is present. The biggest indicator is the first interval present and the last cadence (it feels like it doesn't resolve if you try and think of it as a major/minor). 

Current Events

Step 1

• Use this Leuven ChansonnierLinks to an external site. resource(reading, video & image tour) to check out a NEWLY DISCOVERED 15th Century Songbook

• I sang through one of these at a lecture held at the Amherst Early Music Festival 2017Links to an external site., heard for the first time in 600 years!

Honors Track

Can Roman de Fauvel come out to play?

Use these resources 1Links to an external site., 2Links to an external site., 3Links to an external site. & 4Links to an external site. to provide responses to the following

1.  Who, what, where, when & why?

Who:  Gervais de Bus, a clerk at the French royal chancery.

What: A satirical poem comprised of two books. The poem also includes 169 musical pieces — all with lyrics — of various forms and styles.

Where: This work originated in France. 

Why: The dislike of King Philipe IV lead Gervais de Bus to make fun of the Pope, church, king, and entire French Society. 

When: 14th Century, around 1310-1320

2.  What does the Fauvel acronym represent?

This acronym stands for Flattery, Avarice, Vileness, Variability, Envy, and Laxity.

3.  Describe musical trivia attributed to this work

This work was a very early example of isorhythm. This is a type of polyphony where the tenor voice has the melody, and many rhythmic patterns are repeated. Other genres within this work include plainchant, rondeaux, ballad, and chanson.

4.  How does this music sound and how does it make you feel?

Due to the satirical nature of this piece, I get a Monty Python feeling from the music. The multiple lines with the percussive accompaniment is rather upbeat. Nonetheless, something about the timbre of the stringed instrument screams comedy to me.  

5.  Give a few examples of how this work is relevant today

This work is relevant today because of the early insight to isorhythm. It is one of the first examples of such a technique and, by viewing techniques of the past, we can better understand the techniques of today. Also, on a written-history perspective, this is a rare work of old political commentary (basically, it was dangerous to insult people of power and written works of criticism were not common). 

​

Can the Montpellier Codex come out to play?

Use these resources 1Links to an external site., 2Links to an external site., 3Links to an external site. Links to an external site.& 4Links to an external site. to provide responses to the following

1.  Who, what, where, when & why?

Who: Although it is anonymous, musical similarities point us towards  Pérotin, Petrus de Cruce, Adam de la Halle, Guillaume d'Auvergne, and PhilippLinks to an external site.e le Chancelier.

What: This is a compilation of 336 polyphonic works from various composers. There are 8 fascicles, all of which contain different musical genres. 

Where: It is believed to have originated from Paris.

Why: The reason for composing this source is unknown; the composers and purpose remain anonymous. 

When: 13th Century, around 1250-1300

2.  Define

• Cantus Firmus- an existing melody (eg. an excerpt) used as an underlying basis for a polyphonic work. 

• Courtly Love- a popular story component of Medieval times in which a knight falls in love with a married noblewoman, and they never get a happily ever after together. 

• Motet- a short, sacred piece of vocal music. Usually polyphonic and unaccompanied. 

• Isorhythmic- a type of polyphony in which rhythmic patterns are repeated and the tenor voice holds the melody. 

• Macaronic- the combination of languages, usually latin and something else. 

3.  How does this music sound and how does it make you feel?

Especially the first link, Alle Psallite Cum Luya, was much more intense than Fauvel. The first, low melody begins the song off with a feeling of war (I was thinking of war drums) and then the building of melodies upon each other (with higher and higher pitch) created a sense that the music was leading up to something big. Then, about half way through, there was a change. A new timbre (one that really stood out) and an abandoning of the previous melodies in the polyphonic texture created a much different feel that continued in the vocal break. It was rather upbeat and celebratory. 

The second link, Movement 111, was a somber vocal piece. The singers sounded like they were in despair or mourning. 

4.  Provide 4 images found in this Codex

​

Can Beowulf come out to play?

Use the following resources to provide responses for each topic

1.  Benjamin BagbyLinks to an external site.-Bio & Background 

Benjamine Bagby is a descendent of early German Immigrants. He was captivated by Beowolf and, after moving back to Europe in 1974, he founded Sequentia — an ensemble for medieval music — along with Barbara Thornton. Outside of his performance life, he is also a teacher of medieval musical performance practice at the University of Paris. Sequentia has produced two CDs of musical reconstruction: ‘The Rheingold Curse’ and ‘Fragments for the End of Time'. 

2.  BeowulfLinks to an external site.-Time, Authorship, Duration, Bardic Traditions Beowulf is a (technically untitled) epic poem originating from the Anglo-Saxon region from the early 11th Century (or prior). The performance of Beowulf would range from five to six hours, all of which was told by the 'scop'. The scop may or may not accompany himself with a six-stringed harp, and never told the story the same way twice. 

3.  The Harp & MusicLinks to an external site.-Features, Details 

This six-stringed harp used to accompany Beowulf (played by Benjamin Bagby) was recreated based on remains from the 7th century. Made of oak, this bardic instrument had six strings, a tailpiece, and a free standing bridge. The strings make up a "gaped octave" containing three perfect fifths and two perfect fourths. The purpose of this quiet instrument was not to be heard by all, but to be heard by the scop in order to guide his vocals. 

4.  Performance ExcerptLinks to an external site.-Musical Elements 

The quiet six-stringed harp played a repetitive tune underneath the vocalist. The vocals would occasionally switch into a talking voice (most likely telling part of the story with dialogue). There were few times the harp was strummed instead of plucked, and when it was the vocals hit a peak moment of intensity.  The tempo was relatively slow, and the story telling lead to an unmetrical performance.  

5.  Performance InterviewLinks to an external site.-5 interesting takeaways 

1. He said his choices as an actor are limited due to the fact he is playing the harp the entire time (uses additude of body and voice to convey emotion)​

2. Beowulf was written in "Old English", which was a completely different language 

3. Beowulf text is the only surviving epic poem in the Old English language 

4. Although Beowulf used to take 5-6 hours to perform, we do it nowadays in about two hours 

5. Bagby would change his voice to represent different characters in the poem 

Can Anonymous Four come out and play?

​Use these resources to answer the following questions: Anonymous FourLinks to an external site.  NPRLinks to an external site.  Early Music AmericaLinks to an external site.

1.  Who, What, Where, When & Why?

Who:  Four women in a vocal quartet

What: An a cappella group originally dedicated to singing medieval music 

Where: They first joined together in New York City

When: The group began in 1986

Why: "we wanted to hear what medieval chant and polyphony would sound like when sung by female voices."

2.  Discography link

Anonymous 4 has created over 20 albums, some of which include : An English Ladymass: medieval chant and polyphony (1992), The Lily & the Lamb: chant & polyphony from medieval England (1995), Legends of St. Nicholas: Medieval Chant and Polyphony (1999), and Secret Voices: Chant & Polyphony from the Las Huelgas Codex, c.1300  (2011). 

3.  Publications

Anonymous 4 has created versions of medieval plainchant and polyphony that can be purchased at sights such as sheetmusicplus.com or earthsongs. These included works of Hildegard of Bingen, and Americana. 

4.  Images & Audio Examples

Link

Link2

Link3