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Invasion from Germanic tribes/ Goths leads to the fall of the Roman Empire, which gives way to the start of the Medieval Era. -
Each mode has its own unique arrangement, based upon their tuning system of the time. The mode can begin on any note. The authentic modes are Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian and the plagal modes are Hypodorian, Hypophygian, Hypolydian, and hypo ixolydian. -
The Middle Ages begin in 476 CE at the fall of the Roman Empire and can be characterized by slow changes in life, culture and dissemination of knowledge. Music in this time was either Divine or Cosmic, coming from God or based upon the movement of stars and planets.
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Sacred music was some of the most popularly listened to and produced music of Medieval times. The church believed that music could positively or negatively affect a person's character. Sacred music was shaped heavily by the rise of monasteries and the Christian church, then preserved by members of those respective communities.
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Plainchant came about when the church began suppressing all music that was secular, popular, or entertaining. This can be monastic chant, Gregorian chant, Russian Orthodox chant, African Spirit chant, etc. The style is characterized by Monophonic sacred song, lack of accompaniment, limited range, free rhythm, and use of the 8 church modes. The text can be called syllabic, pneumatic, or melismatic. Notes were called neumes.
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There were two main parts of Mass, main service of the church, those are Ordinary (set text) and Proper (changing text). The Ordinary being Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, or Agnus Dei. The Proper being Alleluia, gradual, offertory, etc.
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Instrumental music was mostly improved and used for dancing. The instruments were divided by soft (bas) or loud (haut). They were also categorized by indoor or outdoor instruments. These instruments garnered popularity because of their recent improvement at the time.
Early instruments include: Organs, Theorbo, Rebec, Shawm, Psaltery, Dulcimer, Lute, Vielle, Crumhorns Sackbut, Trumpet, Recorder, Harp -
Polyphony and notation began to emerge throughout the Romanesque era. Organum is the first known from of polyphony. -
Guido d'Arezzo is credited with "inventing the staff and sight reading using syllables. This suggested using a red line for F and a yellow line for C, diastematic notation.
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Founder and abbess of the covent at Rupertsberg, Germany. Hildegard von Bingen was the first female composer in contemporary musicology to receive extensive scholarly research. She was famous for her prophetic powers and revelations. She began writing liturgical poetry and music, then began collecting and illuminating the manuscripts of her many works to use in the covent. Her music was unique, because it was so different from the style of Gregorian chant.
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First composer of polyphonic music whose name we know, cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Credited with compiling the "Magnus liner organi" (c.1170)
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Composer from souther France, served at the court in Montferrat (northwestern Italy). He wrote at least 35 powers, with only 7 surviving with music and was killed in battle servingg his Parton (1207). Known for "Kalenda Maya", which was a piece characterized by Provençal (Occitan) text and improvised percussion.
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Composers began writing new texts and music, resulting in the genre of motet. It had more text, rhythmic complexity and instrumental inclusion. They were usually written in French, Latin or both.
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Courts and cities, usually vocal (stories) and instrumental (dancing).
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First composer and authoritative treatise of Ars nova.
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Most famous composer and poet of the time.
Attributed to one of the first polyphonic mass cycles, several extant chansons ad more than 20 extant motets. -
Ars Nova = New Art
Composers and theorists began to speak about this "new art" with new rhythmic polyphony in the motets. The complex rhythm of the motet did not last long, but resurfaced in 20th century African music. -
Music theorist, composer, poet, and organist; most famous Italian composer of the 14th century, because he was blind.
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Also known as the Bubonic Plague, one of the worlds worst pandemics; killing around 1/3 of the worlds population, over 75 million people In the 1340's.
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Machaut's "Puis qu'en oubli" (Since I am forgotten), was a chanson rondeau, a French forme fixe. It could be characterized by modal tonality and no set system of cadences. -
Invented by German goldsmith, Johannes Gutenberg; Coined the Gutenberg Press