LESSON 1

• VOCAL MUSIC - Dominated the music scene. There are no records of instrumental music because music as played by instruments, was highly improvised at this time.
• The use of small melodic intervals and range was very evident in medieval music.
• MELISMA, LEGATO, AND CHURCH MODE: were the usual characteristics of melody.
• MELISMA: is a group of notes that are sung on a syllable of a particular word or text. (style and expression)
• LEGATO: is a smooth, even manner of musical performance. (style and expression)
• CHURCH MODE: also called the Gregorian mode, one of the eight scales in the Gregorian Chant. (pitches)
• HARMONY AND TOTALITY - were also different in the Middle Ages than those in modern Western music.
• MONOPHONIC TEXTURE - was mainly used during the early part of the Middle Ages. It refers to only one musical line.
• POLYPHONIC TEXTURE - such as organum and motet, was developed from combining several musical lines.