Medieval Music By Joel Tracy Lori Snyder Credits

Medieval Music By: Joel Tracy & Lori Snyder Credits Let’s Go!!!

Welcome to Medieval Music You will be learning about Instruments used during Medieval times as well as the History of the music. Let’s begin with Instruments

You will learn about 4 families of instruments used during the medieval times: Strings, Keys, Winds, and Percussions. Let’s begin with Strings

Gamba Listen Description

The Gamba (bass viol da gamba) Originated by applying a bow to a pre-existing plucked string instrument Developed in Spain during the late fifteenth century (the tenor viol has the shape, size, and tuning of the Spanish vihuela). In the year 1600, its outward appearance became standardized. Of the common sizes of the gamba family, the bass was the largest, and the treble viol was the smallest.

The Dulcimer (Hackbrett) Listen Description

The Dulcimer (Hackbrett) In English-speaking countries, dulcimer, from dulce melos, (Greek for sweet sound) was the name given to the type of psaltery or box zither Trapizoid soundbox and which was played by striking the strings with hammers. In areas around Germany, the term was Hackbrett (or hackbrad, hackbrade, hakkebrett, or hakkebord) meaning chopping board or chopping block

The Lute Listen Description

The Lute The lute was an ideal accompaniment for voice and other soft instruments The most eloquent of all solo instruments. In paintings and other art works the lute is often associated with Apollo, angels, or Orpheus, and it is often mentioned at climactic points in tragedies Take Quiz

This instrument was used to accompany voice: Lute Gamba Dulcimer

This instrument was developed in Spain during 15 th Century: Lute Gamba Dulcimer

This instrument was shaped like a trapezoid: Lute Gamba Dulcimer

This instrument was found mostly in Germany: Lute Gamba Dulcimer

STINGS QUIZ RESULTS Strings Results Let’s visit Instruments with keys!!

Harpsichord Listen Description

Harpsichord In the harpsichord family the string is plucked by a small plectrum, originally of quill. The variety of sound from these plucked instruments is achieved not primarily by finger pressure, but more subtly by phrasing and articulation. The harpsichord was used both for solo performance and accompanying in chamber groups and in larger ensembles of the period.

The Hurdy-Gurdy (symphonia) Description Listen

The Hurdy-Gurdy (symphonia) four string symphonie or organistrum based on a late fourteenth century Florentine marble fingure in the Vienna Leichtenstein Gallery Has two unison chanterelles, two drones, and an interior pegbox. Oblong in shape and has tuneable tangents and a range of two diatonic octaves with drones on g and d 1.

The Organetto (portative) Listen Description

The Organetto (portative) Organetto was from a fifteenth century painting on wood by Hans Memling. The bellows provide air pressure only on the downswing, so the player has to space the opening of the bellows much as a vocalist carefully places breaths Notice the wood inlays which appear on both sides as well as the front Take Quiz

What is a four string symphonie or organistrum? Hurdy-Gurdy Organetto Harpsichord

This instrument was used for both solo and accompanying in chamber groups: Hurdy-Gurdy Organetto Harpsichord

This instrument has bellows to provide air pressure: Hurdy-Gurdy Organetto Harpsichord

This instrument has two unison chanterelles, two drones, and an interior peg box: Hurdy-Gurdy Organetto Harpsichord Listen

KEYS QUIZ RESULTS Keys Results Let’s study Wind Instruments!

The Bagpipe Listen Description

The Bagpipe The origins of the bagpipe can be traced back to the most ancient civilizations. Rustic instrument in many cultures because a herdsman had the necessary materials at hand: a goat or sheep skin and a reed pipe. Instrument is mentioned in the Bible, and historians believe that it originated in Sumaria. Through Celtic migration it was introduced to Persia and India, and subsequently to Greece and Rome.

The Lizard (tenor cornett) Listen Description

The Lizard (tenor cornett) Tenor of the zink family (also known as lysard or lysarden) has the peculiar curved shape of a flattened letter s. Shape helps the player cover the finger holes on this longer zink. The lizard's tone is pleasing, yet rather foggy. It blends well with voices and plays on one of the inner voices of an ensemble. A Lyserden is listed in the waits' band of Exeter in 1575

The Bladder Pipe Listen Description

The Bladder Pipe Very distinctive loud instrument which has a reed which is enclosed by an animal bladder. Performer blows into the bladder through its mouthpiece, a wooden pipe. The bladder serves as a wind reservoir keeping the lips from touching the reed directly. This medieval instrument was one of the principal early wind cap instruments and is considered the forerunner to the crumhorn. Take Quiz

Tenor of the zink family: Lizard Bagpipe Bladder Pipe

A very loud instrument with a reed enclosed by an animal organ: Lizard Bagpipe Bladder Pipe

Origins traced back to ancient civilizations: Lizard Bagpipe Bladder Pipe

Introduced to Persia and India through Celtic migration: Lizard Bagpipe Bladder Pipe

WINDS RESULTS Wind Results Now - Check out Percussions!!

Rummelpost Listen Description

Rummelpost Looks like a small naker but is not played by striking the head. Sound is generated by sliding the fingers back and forth on a slender wooden rod which is fastened to the center of the head inside the drum shell. Rosin is placed on the rod to help provide friction induced sounds which are amplified by the drum head.

The Drum Listen Description

The Drums (tambour, Trommel, tamburo, tambor, drome, dromme, drume), were probably among the earliest instruments. The first membrane drums consisted of naturally hollow tree trunks covered at one or both ends with the skins of water animals, fish, or reptiles. Later, skins of hunted game and cattle were used. Drum bodies could be of wood, metal, earthenware, or bone.

Finger Cymbals Listen Description

Finger Cymbals Finger cymbals (crotales, zil) have been known since the middle of the 1 st millennium BC. Played in pairs, sometimes one in each hand as pictured, and often in one hand, one held on the thumb and the other on either the index or middle finger Used to accompany dances, and sometimes held by the dancers themselves, they are still used chiefly in the Islamic cultures and on the Indian subcontinent. Take Quiz

Their bodies were made of wood, metal, or bone: Rummelpost Finger cymbals Drum Listen

Sound is generated by sliding fingers back and forth on a slender wooden rod: Rummelpost Finger cymbals Drum Listen

Played in pairs, often held in hands: Rummelpost Finger cymbals Drum Listen

Looks like a small naker but is not played by striking the head: Rummelpost Finger cymbals Drum Listen

PERCUSSIONS RESULTS Percussion Results History Time!

HISTORY Medieval music is impossible for us to truly appreciate, as it can never be as it was. Most of the music enjoyed in everyday life is lost. Most all we have is sacred in nature, and even that is in a musical “language” that is difficult to understand, at best. Musical notation has changed considerably over the hundreds of years. Much of what we know of music during the thousand years of the middle ages (church, court, and commonplace) comes down to us in our own understanding and examples of music today. Let’s Begin with Secular Music

SECULAR MUSIC The area of musical history about which we know the least The kind of music we enjoy today— entertainment Song and instrumental Poetry put to music Performed professionally by wandering musicians Bards Goliards Troubadours

BARDS Different roles, depending upon the culture in Celtic society, a musician hired by a nobleman to create songs of praise for him in Scandinavian society, skalds (similar to the Celtic bard) composed some of the most well-known and longest-lasting literature in later English society, a wandering musician who performed for all levels of society

GOLIARDS Unlike bards and skalds, the goliard created his songs only to amuse with satire and bawdy humor The goliard was similar in that he wandered from village to village, like the English bard Goliards were often students from medieval universities--not professional musicians

TROUBADOURS We tend to think of troubadours as existing only in the later years of the middle ages, but in fact, they originated during the eleventh century The major theme of a troubadour’s songs was chivalry and courtly love Songs from the point of view of the singer to a married lover are most famous

BALLADS We tend to think of this now as a kind of song For Europeans in the middle ages, this was THE story to tell Could include a love story Often contained heroes and references to famous battles Incredibly popular by everyone in the common world

SECULAR MUSIC QUIZ For the following questions, just click on the correct choice. Your score will be tallied, and you will see how you did at the end. Good luck! Review Secular Take Quiz

What is the difference between a Celtic bard an English bard? An English bard made more money A Celtic bard only composed love songs An English bard traveled while a Celtic bard did not There is no difference

What was a bard called in Scandinavian countries? A skiyard A skald A kenning There were no Scandinavian bards

How was a goliard similar to an English bard? Both bards and goliards wrote harp music Both bards and goliards were paid only by kings A goliard was as well educated as an English bard A goliard traveled, just as an English bard did

What were the major themes of troubadour songs? Love of money Chivalry and courtly love Loneliness of the road The honor of war

What was the most popular kind of song for a bard to sing? A duet A dirge A lullaby A ballad

SECULAR RESULTS Secular Results Let’s move on to Sacred History

SACRED MUSIC The kind of music about which we know the most, purely because it was written down Based solely on worship, and that normally in the Catholic Church Sounds (as far as we know) very similar to chant cds made popular a few years ago Still performed in some monasteries throughout the world

SONG Some historians will tell you that the human voice was the first instrument, and so far as sacred music goes, it was the beginning The early Christian Church eschewed all forms of secular music as “inappropriate” The first “acceptable” Christian music were the psalms Over time, this form of music grew to include all forms of praise that was sung-most notably, the chants

CHANT Unaccompanied singing during religious services There are six main versions: Syrian Chant Coptic Chant Armenian Chant Byzantine Chant Carolingian Chant (better known as Gregorian) Early Western Chant

GREGORIAN CHANT This should really be called “Carolingian Chant, ” as it was adopted and adapted during the reign of Charlemagne When the Holy Roman Emperor sought to renew his religious ceremonies, he sent to Rome and adopted their chant This form of chant is credited to Pope Gregory I, but it was developed almost 200 years after his death

EARLY WESTERN CHANT These forms of chant existed in the early days of the Church in Western Europe Of these five, only “Old Roman” is well known, as it was adapted to become what is most often called “Gregorian” Ambrosian Chant Beneventan Chant “Old Roman” Chant Mozarabic Chant Gallican Chant

INSTRUMENTAL We know with some certainty when certain musical instruments either entered Europe or were invented We have little data about when instruments began to accompany chant and other singing in liturgy Some believe this did not occur until the Renaissance, when the most popular forms of music were secular

SACRED MUSIC QUIZ For the following questions, just click on the correct choice. Your score will be tallied, and you will see how you did at the end. Good luck! Review Sacred Take Quiz

What do some historians believe was the earliest human instrument? The drum The flute The human voice The ukelele

Which of the following was not a form of Medieval chant? Armenian Egyptian Byzantine Syrian

The best known form of chant, Gregorian, should really be called what? Carolingian Roman Gallic Psalmic

Why do we know more about sacred Medieval music than secular? Historians are generally Christian Religious music sounds better to us Church fathers guarded the information carefully Sacred music was written down

Choose the best definition for Medieval “chant” Repetitive oral noise Unaccompanied singing during religious services A cheer put to music A prayer said in montone

SACRED MUSIC RESULTS Sacred Results Now for the Composers!

COMPOSERS As with so much of human invention, the farther back one goes, and the more seminal the work, the less likely one is to find a name Of the religious orders, farthest in history In the secular world, required certain connections, so one’s work could be recorded (normally by a monk)

RELIGIOUS ORDERS At the birth of the Christian Church, folk music was first used to entertain travelers on pilgrimage to holy sites This fell out of favor, and only religious songs were sung while traveling Thus, the earliest versions of what would become Medieval sacred music were sung by members of the foundling Church

PSALMS As psalms and other religious texts and poetry had been sung in the Jewish faith, the early Christians also sang their prayers As other prayers were created by Church members, these, too, were sung The first composers of Medieval sacred music were not trying to entertain, but merely going about part of their worship

ADDITIONS TO LITURGY The liturgy of the Church developed slowly over time, and included sacred music as part of the formal ceremony In the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries, new holy feasts were created, along with the attendant music for mass and office During this time, past liturgical practices were copied down and spread through the previously unknown staff notation

SECULAR COMPOSERS The area of musical history about which we know the least The kind of music we enjoy today— entertainment Song and instrumental Poetry put to music Performed professionally by wandering musicians Bards Goliards Troubadours

ARS NOVA The fourteenth century saw profound musical changes in both secular and sacred music Philippe de Vitry used the phrase “ars nova” to characterize this new style Changes include those associated with notation and the use of isorhythm (involving color and talea)

COMPOSERS QUIZ For the following questions, just click on the correct choice. Your score will be tallied, and you will see how you did at the end. Good luck! Review Composers Take Quiz

The first sacred music sanctioned by the Church was? Folk music Psalms The Lord’s Prayer The Hail Mary

Additions to the liturgy came about during what time period? First through third centuries Fifth through seventh centuries Ninth through eleventh centuries Thirteenth through fifteen centuries

When do secular composers make their appearance? The twelfth through fourteenth centuries Not until the end of the Medieval period Not until the Renaissance The same time as the sacred composers

Why is Guillaume de Machaut probably one of the most famous secular composers? He composed “Happy Birthday to You” He composed for King Henry VIII He had his compositions copied into manuscripts He arranged to have his music played all over Europe

When was the most change in music evident? Just before the Renaissance During the reign of Charlemagne Just as the Medieval period was beginning Musical development was slow and smooth

COMPOSERS RESULTS Composer Results You have finished your study of Medieval Music Click here for your results!

Bibliography www. s-hamilton. k 12. ia. us/antiqua/ instrumt. html www. medieval. org www. csupomona. edu www. en. wikipedia. org www. nmt. edu www. vanderbilt. edu www. unf. edu