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.