14 Century Music

1. 14 Century Music

2. 14th Century Music Age of disintegration (100 years war, black death,etc…) Weakened feudal system;literary works focused on sensuality Secular music became more important Polyphonic music written NOT based on gregorian chant (birdcalls, barking dogs,etc.. Were imitated)

3. 14th century music New set of music notation evolved;composers specified almost any rhythmic pattern Beats subdivided into 2; syncopation used and became common practice Changes so profound, music theorist referred to French and Italian music as the new art (Ars Nova,Latin). Guillaume De Machaut (1300-1377) French Composer (read section in your book)

4. Guillaume De Machaut 1300-1377. French Composer, musician and poet Worked in many royal courts Known for presenting beautifully decorated copies of his music One of 1st important composers whose music survived Decline of church reflected in musical output; later wrote mostly love songs for 1-4 performers

5. 14th century music Notre Dame Mass Written by Machaut 1st polyphonic treatment of the mass ordinary by a know composer Mass Ordinary: texts that remain the same 5 sections: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei. Same sections have been polyphonic since the 14th century, inspired other great works in future centuries. Composers have written the mass in their own particular style for centuries.

6. Music in the Renaissance (1450-1600 Horizons of music were expanding Invention of the printing press (1440, Johannes Gutenberg) allowed for more circulation of music Appearance of more composers and performers “Universal Man”- every educated person trained in music

7. Renaissance Music Like in past, musicians worked in the church, but also in courts of nobles and in secular situations Church choirs grew in size; some were all male Church remain important, but music activity shifted to courts of nobles Kings, Dukes,etc… competed for the best composers Single court may have 10-60 musicians, including singers; women functioned as the virtuosic soloists in some of the Italian courts (late renaissance)

8. Renaissance Music Court music director composed secular music to entertain; secular music for court chapel. Nobility would bring musicians along when traveling to another noble’s residence Town musicians performed for typical town functions (weddings, religious services,etc._ Musicians had higher status;composer weren’t unknown and sought credit for their work. Leading composers came from Netherlands, Belgium, Northern France & held important positions in music throughout Europe, including Italy

9. Renaissance Music Vocal Music more important, like before Interest in language influenced the music in new ways; close relationship between music and word Composers wrote music to enhance meaning and emotion of text. “When one of the words expresses weeping, pain, heartbreak, sighs, tears, and other similar things, let the harmony be full of sadness” Gioseffo Zarlino (16th century music theorist) Medieval composers uninterested in expressing emotions of the text

10. Renaissance Music Word painting: musical representation of poetic images i.e. descending from heaven: descending melodic line; “running”: series of eighth notes Music still sounded calm and restrained Music expressed in a balanced way: no extreme changes in dynamics tone color or rhythm

11. Renaissance Music: Texture Mostly polyphonic; 4-6 voices of equal melodic interest Imitation common: all voices present same melodic ideas Homophonic music used in lighter music such as dances Renaissance music has fuller sound; bass register used expanding to an 4 octave range Composers began to think in chords All melodic lines conceived at the same time; individualized parts

12. Texture, pt 2 Stable constant chords were favored, triads occurred often Choral music didn’t need instrumental parts “golden age” of a-capella choral music Instruments often combined with voices; duplicate vocal lines Parts specified for instruments hardly found in renaissance choral music

13. Rhythm and melody Gently flow; not a sharp defined beat Melodic lines have great rhythmic independence. Music sung in “round”, not necessary a strict one Renaissance melodies easy to sing; scale like melodies with few large leaps