WELCOME
GRADE NINE
PRAYER
UNIT 1
Music of the Medieval,
Renaissance and
Baroque Period
Objectives
Describe music elements of given Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.
Listen perceptively to selected vocal and instrumental music of Medieval,
Renaissance and Baroque Period.
Explore other arts and media that portray Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque
elements.
PRE-ASSESSMENT
Guess When?
Classify the terms according to the historical period (Medieval, Renaissance or
Baroque) to which they belong. You can write down your answers in your notebook.
*Gregorian Chants *Mass
*Fugue *Concerto Grosso
*Troubadour Music *Oratorio
*Madrigal *Chorale
MUSIC OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD
700-1400
Lesson 1 Music of the Medieval Period
(700 – 1400 )
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
❖Known as the Middle Ages or Dark Ages
❖Started at the fall of the Roman Empire
❖Christian Church influenced Europe’s culture and political affairs
❖Monophonic Plainchant was named after Pope Gregory I, who
made approved music of the Catholic Church
CHARACTERISTICS OF GREGORIAN CHANTS:
❖Monophonic – consisting of a single musical line,
without accompaniment
❖Free Meter – the rhythm is intuitive and free – flowing
❖Modal
❖Based on Latin Liturgy (forms of Christian worship
❖Use of Neume notation
❖During the latter part of ❖Troubadour Music:
the Medieval period, *monophonic
secular music which was *with improvised
not bound by the Catholic accompaniment
traditions emerged. Most *tells chivalry and
courtly love
of these songs were
*originated in France
performed across Europe
*written in French
by groups called language
Troubadours.
TROUBADOUR MUSICIANS
FAMOUS COMPOSER of
the MEDIEVAL PERIOD
❖also known as Adam le Bossu (Adam the Hunchback)
❖son of a well-known citizen of Arras, Henri de la Halle
ADAM de la HALLE
❖received his education at the Cistercian Abbey of
Vaucelles near Cambral
❖he was destined for the church but he eventually got
married
❖he was one of the oldest secular composer
❖he was a trouvere, poet and musicians
❖his music includes chansons, poetic debates,
polyphonic rondel and motets in the style of early
liturgical polyphony
• Works:
❖Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion
❖La Chanson du roi de Sicile
MUSIC OF THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD
1400 - 1600
Renaissance - comes from the word “renaitre” which means “rebirth”;
“revival” and “rediscovery”.
- Renaissance music became popular as entertainment and activity for
amateurs and educated.
- Lute was the prominent instrument of the era.
-
This era was also known as the “golden age” of acapella choral
music.
Characteristics of Renaissance Era:
Mostly polyphonic
Imitation among the voices is common
Use of word painting in texts and music
Melodic lines move in a flowing manner
Melodies are easier to perform
Vocal Music of the Renaissance Music
1. Mass – is a form of sacred musical composition that sets text of the
Eucharistic liturgy into music.
Characteristics of the mass:
Polyphonic
May be sung in a capella or with orchestral accompaniment
Text may be syllabic, neumatic, or melismatic
FAMOUS COMPOSER of
the RENAISSANCE
PERIOD
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
● The greatest master of Roman Catholic Church
● Majority of his compositions are
sacred music.
- Was committed to sacred music and has a keen interest in
satisfying the desire of church leaders in the sixteenth century.
- His career reflects his commitment to the music of the church.
- Was an organist and choir master at both the Sistine Chapel
and at St. Peter’s.
- His first book MASSES became popular and was
greatly appreciated by Pope Julius III.
Thomas Morley(1557-1602)
- was a singer in the local cathedral and became master of Choristers.
- The famous composer of secular music
- Received his bachelor’s degree in Oxford and became an
organist at St. Paul’s in London.
- His Musica Transalpina, a collection of Italian madrigals
was published by Nicholas Yonge that made
significant contribution to the history of music.
His works:
Fire, Fire My Heart
Sing and Chant it
Fantasie
April Is In My Mistress’ Face
It Was a Lover and His Lass
MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE PERIOD
1400 - 1600
Baroque – is derived from the Portuguese word “barroco” which
means “pearl of irregular shape”.
Some of the great composers of this time were George Friedrich
Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, and Antonio
Vivaldi
New instrumental technique sand changes in musical
notation were developed.
Characteristics of Baroque Music
- Melodies sound elaborate and ornamental
- Melodies are not easy to sing or remember
- Dynamic contrast
- Music genres
- Orchestra consists of strings and continuo
- Harpsichord and organ are the keyboard instruments that are
commonly used.
MUSIC GENRE
1.Concerto – a form of orchestral music that employs a solo
instrument accompaniment by an orchestra.
2. Concerto Grosso – a form of orchestral music during the
Baroque Period wherein the music is between a small group
of solo instruments called concertino and the whole
orchestra called tutti.
3. Fugue – a contrapuntal piece, developed mainly by imitative
counterpoint usually written in 3 or 4 parts, with a main theme called
“subject’.
4. Oratorio – a large scale musical composition for orchestra and voices
that incorporates narratives on religious themes.
Examples:
Handel’s Messiah, Samson, Israel and Egypt
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
Haydn’s The Creation
5. Chorale – musical compositions that resemble a harmonized version of
hymnal tunes of the Protestant Church during the Baroque era.
FAMOUS COMPOSER of
the BAROQUE
PERIOD
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
● came from a family of musicians.
● Was taught to play violin by his father
● became an orphaned at age 10.
● Hisbrother, a church organist provided for
him.
● was a religious man.
● Was known for his compositions for organ, orchestra and oratorio.
● his most important and long – term position was as “cantor” at St. Thomas
Church.
His works:
Brandenburg Concertos (concerto grosso)
Mass in B minor
Cantata 208 and 211
Fugue in G minor
Works for clavichord and harpsichord
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
- nicknamed the “Red Priest”
- recognized as Italian Baroque composer, catholic priest
and a virtuoso violinist.
- known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, esp. for
violin, as well as sacred choral works and over forty.
- entered the priesthood and ordained in 1703
- Well-known for giving the strings a major role in his
compositions.
His work:
The Four Seasons - this composition is a series of four violin concerti
depicting each of the seasons Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
George Friedrich Handel (1685-1759)
● was the second son from the second
marriage of a pastor.
● At age 7, he gained access to a church organ
and started to play.
● Remembered for his operas and oratorios
● Became England’s favorite composer
● He lost his eyesight in 1753
● When he conducted his oratorio, Samson, a few in the audience were
unaware that he had lost his eyesight.
● The Messiah is Handel’s most famous creation and the very well
known Hallelujah chorus is part of Handel’s Messiah.
His work:
The Messiah – was first performed in Dublin, and became an
instant success.
RECAP
- known as the Dark Ages
- comes from the word renaitre
- derived from the word barroco
- influenced Europe’s culture and political affairs
- was named after Pope Gregory I
- consisting of a single musical line, without accompaniment
- songs for the church
- a type of song that is used for entertainment
- music consisting of several melodic lines.
- It was the prominent instrument of renaissance period
- It is a form of orchestral music that employs a solo instrument
- It is a small group of solo instruments
- It is a whole or big group of orchestra
- He is also known as Adam the Hunchback
- He is the greatest master/composer of Roman Catholic in
Renaissance period
- He was a singer in the local cathedral and became master of
choristers
- He was taught to play violin by his father
- He entered the priesthood and ordained in 1703
- At the age 7, he gained access to church organ and started to
play.
THANK YOU…
KEEP SAFE…
See You on the next meeting..
