western music

• 2 types of music  

  • Vocal music
  • Instrumental music 
• VOCAL MUSIC

  -uses and emphasizes  the human voice 
• • Opera - form of theater, a fundamental component and dramatic roles by singer 
• • Gregorian chant derived from ancient plainchant, a collection of sacred vocal music by monastics 
• • Acapella replicate songs using human voice only
• • Pop catchy, simple, commercial music, mainstream music, any popular form of music enjoyed by mass audience 
• • Beatboxing creates music and sound effects with mouth, lips, tongue, voice, and body
• INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

  -performed w/o a vocalist

  -only use of instruments 
• • classical - formal side, extensive use of only instrumental and excludes vocals in many instances
• • Jazz emphasizes instrumental over vocals, improvised flow, focus always on instruments 
• • EDM (Electronic dance music)variety of percussive electronic music genres, vocals are absent and beat is the main attraction
• • Bluegrassplayed w/ acoustic string instruments, vocals may/may not be present
• WESTERN MUSIC 

  1. Medieval 
  2. Renaissance
  3.  Baroque
  4. Classic
  5. Romantic 
• MEDIEVAL

  -encompasses the sacred and secular music during middle ages (6th to 15th centuries) 
• • Gregorian chant
  • Central tradition if western plainchant 
  • Form of homophonic
  • Unaccompanied sacred song of western catholic church
  • Named after “pope gregory the great”
  • Charlemagne became the holy roman emperor and made everyone use the chant in europe
• -secular music emerged during latter part of medieval 

  -performed in europe called “troubadours”
• Characteristics:

  • monophonic (consists of single music line and without accompaniment)

  -free meter (no regular repeating rhythm 
• • Troubadours
  • Monophonic 
  • Improvised accompaniment 
  • Tells chivalry and courtly love
  • Originated in france
  • French language 
• COMPOSERS

  • Adam de la halle 

  -famous during medieval

  -france (1237-1288) 

  His songs:

  -Le chanson du roi de sicile 

  -Le jeu de robin et de maroon  
• RENAISSANCE 

  -rebirth, rediscovery, revival

  -era of exploration and innovation 
• CHARACTERISTICS:

  -produces sounds simultaneously ; many voiced

  -limitation among the voices

  -use of word painting in text and music

  -melodic lines in a flowing manner 
• • Mass

  -sacred music sets texts of eucharistic liturgy into music

  -during mass and religious gatherings 
• CHARACTERISTICS OF MASS

  -polyphonic

  -may be acapella or with orchestra 

  -may be syllable text 
• 5 MAIN SECTIONS:

  -KYRIE (greek text, Lord have mercy)

  -GLORIA (glory to God in the highest

  -CREDO ( I believe in one God)

  -SANCTUS AND BENEDICTUS (holy, holy, and blessed is he)

  -AGNUS DEI (lamb of God) 
• • Madrigal 

  -secular vocal polyphonic music from italy

  -written and expressed in a poetic text 

  -courtly social gatherings 

  -not religious 
• CHARACTERISTICS: 

  -polyphonic

  -sung acapella

  -thoroughly composed

  • 3 to 6 voices 
• COMPOSERS

  • Thomas morley 

  - most famous composer of secular music

  -singer in local cathedral from his boyhood

  -master of choristers 

  His songs:

  -Now is the month of maying

  -fire, fire, my heart

  -april is my mistress
• • Giovanni pierluigi da palestrina

  -greatest master of roman catholic church

  -sacred music

  -keen interested in satisfying desirees of church 

  His song:

  -Pope marcellus mass 
• BAROQUE 

  -(1660-1750)

  -composition became more complicated 

  -ensemble increase 

  -opera emerged 
• CHARACTERISTICS:

  -extensive use of ornaments to add decoration and richness to melodies 

  -contrast as dramatic element

  -use of loud and soft music

  -maintain consistent mood 
• COMPOSITIONS MORE COMPLICATED:

  -Due to advancement, growing demand for artistic expression and competition among composers
• ENSEMBLE INCREASE: 

  -modern orchestra emerged 

  -establishes standard orchestral 

  -closely ties to the rise of instrumental and growing popularity of large-scale compositions 
• COMPOSERS: 

  • Antonio vivaldi 

  -italian composer and violinist 

  -renowned for his contribution to instrumental music, especially “Concertos” 
• CONCERTO

  -features solo instrument or group of solo instruments with larger ensemble. Prominent and developed during baroque era 
• • George Frideric Handel 

  -german who achieved great success

  -one of the greatest composers 

  -contributes to opera 
• OPERA 

  -combines music, drama and stagecraft to tell a story through sung and acted performance 

  -solo singing with orchestra 
• CLASSICAL

  • 1750-1820 
  • Shift in musical style and forms worked by clarity, balance and restrain compared to preceding baroque periods 
  • Homophonic 
  • Sonata emerged 
  • Clear and elegant melodies 
  • Classical orchestra 
  • Maintained styles of baroque but with new emphasis on elegance and simplicity in choral and instruments 
  • Era of formality based on harmonic structure 
• CHARACTERISTICS: 

  -simplicity (single-line melodies)

  -classicism (stylistic works of 50th century)

  -increased accessibility (public concertos in europe)
• • Wolfgang amadeus mozart 

  - born in salzburg, austria 

  talent from an early age

  • composed first symphony at 8 yrs old 

  His songs:

  -Symphony no. 40 in G minor
• • Ludwig van beethoven 

  -german composer and pianist bridged classical and romantic era 

  • emotional intensity music 

  His songs:

  -moonlight sonata