Historical Development of Music (MAPEH)

• Gregorian Chant is the official sacred music of the Roman Catholic church
• Gregorian Chant is also known as "plainsong" or "plainchant"
• Antiphonal Singing involves alternate singing
• Responsorial Singing includes a solo part
• During the Medieval Period, the center of musical activity was dominated by the Roman Catholic Church
• Most music during the Medieval Period was vocal and performed acapella
• The Medieval Period is sometimes referred to as the Middle Ages
• The Roman Mass is divided into two main parts:
• Proper:

  • Introit
  • Gradual
  • Alleluia
  • Tract
  • Offertory
  • Communion
• Ordinary:

  • Constant portions that include Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei
• The Requiem Mass is a special funeral mass that includes sections from both the Ordinary and the Proper.
• Secular Music of the Medieval Period focused more on the law or legal system of society
• Secular Music of the Medieval Period included love songs that used musical instruments such as harp, drums, and bagpipes
• Secular music in France:

  • Secular songs are written by poet musicians called troubadours and trouveres
• Minnesang:

  • Tradition of lyric and song writing in Germany
• Minnesingers:

  • Literally means "singers of love songs"
• Renaissance:

  • Literally means "rebirth"
• Renaissance Period:

  • Society shifted from a sacred to secular orientation
• Renaissance Period:

  • Emphasized the virtues of the living man
  • Stressed that man had rights, inner strengths, and personal feelings
• Reformation - Protestant Worship:

  • Martin Luther separated the Christian church into 2 main divisions: Catholicism and Protestantism
• Protestants:

  • Believed that faith in God alone is needed to get into heaven
• Catholics:

  • Believe that both good deeds and faith in God are needed
• Baroque Period derived from the Portuguese word "barroco," meaning "oddly shaped pearl"
• Musical Style:

  • Decorative, with the use of trills and other forms of ornamentation
  • Dramatic and emotional
  • Flamboyant, focusing on the virtuosity of the soloist
• Rhythm:

  • Repetition of the same rhythm to express uniformity of moods or affections
• Melody:

  • Can be repeated throughout the piece to create coherence in the emotions being portrayed
• Dynamics:

  • Baroque music uses dynamic alternation of loud and soft
  • Controlled by the number of singers and instrumentalists
• Texture:

  • Predominantly Baroque music haa polyphonic texture.
• Vocal Styles:

  • Solo song called aria
  • Declamatory style of singing dialogue called recitative
  • Group of singers performing together, known as "chorus"
• Instrumental Groups:

  • Group of musicians called orchestra
  • Instrumental introduction to an opera called overture
• Formal Dances:

  • Formal dances called ballet
• Vocal Chamber Music:

  • Also known as nontheatrical vocal music
  • Intended for an intimate audience in a small room
• Solo Songs: a vocal style with a single voice part and musical accompaniment
• Chamber Cantata: short nontheatrical compositions based on texts of a narrative and character, composed for one or two solo voices with basso continuo accompaniment
• Basso continuo:

  • Also known as "figured bass" due to numerical symbols in the bass clef
  • Also known as "through bass" for providing long and continuous harmonic sound
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750):

  • Came from a family of musicians
  • Orphaned at age ten
  • Known for compositions for organ, orchestra, and oratorio
  • Showed personal and deep faith in his sacred music
• Henry Purcell (1659-1695):

  • Hailed as the greatest English composer of all time
  • Started as a choir boy at age 10 and worked his way up to become an organist
• George Frederic Handel (1685-1759):

  • Taught himself to play the harpsichord despite his father's opposition
  • Started playing the Church organ at age 7
  • Received a formal music education after a Duke heard him play