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The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages. c. 476-1450. Early Middle Ages. 476 – Fall of Rome Once referred to as the Dark Ages (ironic name, became period of great development) Early Christian Church and the states were the centers of power (not without struggles)

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The Middle Ages

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  1. The Middle Ages c. 476-1450

  2. Early Middle Ages • 476 – Fall of Rome • Once referred to as the Dark Ages (ironic name, became period of great development) • Early Christian Church and the states were the centers of power (not without struggles) • Charlemagne (emperor of the Franks) credited with idea of strong, central government being the responsible for law and order (742-814)

  3. The Church in early Middle Ages • Rise of monasteries • Preserved learning materials • Strong emphasis on music • Therefore, largely religious (sacred) • Women also played a large role (nuns)—helped cultivate music for the church

  4. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) Daughter of a noble couple; they gave her to the service of the church (10th child—essentially tithed her to the church) Became head of religious community and ca. 1150, founded a new convent in Germany. Her reported miracles and prophesies (was reported able to foretell future) made her famous.

  5. Her music • Different music for different feasts through the church year. • Style • Gregorian chant • Full of expressive leaps and melismas that convey the meaning of the words (word painting)

  6. Hildegard of Bingen: Alleluia, or virgamediatrix(p. 79) Melody Rhythm Texture Form Expression Performing Forces Text

  7. Later Middle Ages (c. 1000) • Great cathedrals and universities built • Trade flourished (exploration) • Cities emerged as centers of art and culture • Age of Knighthood • Many ramifications • “Adoration” of the female • Age of the Crusades, bloody battles brought on by deep-set religious beliefs (sound familiar?)

  8. Arts in the Renaissance From symbolism (in the Medieval period) to realism. The Renaissance artist humanized their subjects as the philosophy of that period was concerned with the individual. From painting to sculpture, many big names from history: Botticelli, Leonard da Vinci, Michelangelo.

  9. Music in Society • Church, City and State as well as Courts • Choir masters • Singers • Organists • Instrumentalists • Copyists • Composers • Teachers • Instrument builders • Music Printers

  10. Sacred Music—Used in the Liturgy of the Catholic Church • Monophonic music—Plainsong or Plainchant • Gregorian Chant (about 3000 remain) • Sung in Latin • “Different” scales – modes • Melodies fall into • Syllabic • Neumatic • Melismatic

  11. Examples Page 76

  12. Music generally passed down • Through oral tradition • BUT invention of notation— • Neumes (see top of page 77)

  13. Forms of Music • The Mass (Description on page 76) • The Offices—a series of services celebrated a various hours of the day in monasteries and convents • Proper • Ordinary (parts of the Mass) • Kyrie – Greek prayer for mercy (p. 77) • A-A-A-B-B-B-AAA(form represents Trinity) • Melody conjunct, with mostly narrow range • Gloria – Others from here in Latin • Credo • Sanctus • Agnus Dei

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