Chant

Medieval Music – Part 2

The earliest music of the Middle Ages was sung slowly and without rhythm or harmony. Everyone sang the same thing, which is singing in unison.  These simple tunes were called plainchant because of their simplicity. 

Plainchant

Plainchant is an example of monophonic texture because it includes a single melodic line with no accompaniment.

Plainchant and Monophonic Texture

During the Medieval period most music was not written down. Composers who did write their music down usually worked for the Catholic Church.  The Church could afford to buy the materials the composers would need to write music, while people outside the Church were too poor to buy what was needed to compose music.  

Music of a religious nature is known as sacred music

Notation and Sacred Music

Let’s Discuss!

1. What do you notice about this music that looks different from the written music we use today?

Music notation appeared around the year 900, but it

only showed the pitch.  It didn't tell you anything about the rhythm.  A few hundred years would pass  before the notes showed the rhythm.

As music became more complicated, a standard needed to be created. Pope Gregory I declared that music be standardized. Hence the name, Gregorian Chant.

Notation ctd.

Hildegard von Bingen

Born in 1098 A.D. in Bermersheim, Germany

Hildegard was the 10th child, and tradition required that her parents pledged her to the church

Birth and Beginning

Her parents sent her to a convent at the age of 8 and at the age of 15 she became a nun

Hildegard had her first visions as a young child

Hildegard believed these visions were being given to her from a high power for insight into the scripture

People in the church considered her a prophetess and visionary

People began to seek her advice

Visions and Religion

Hildegard also wrote poems and at least 77 of them were set to music

During a time when music for the church consisted of CHANTS sung by males, Hildegard composed music to be sung by females

No other composer of this time wrote music for female voices!

Wrote an encyclopedia of medicines she had developed and also wrote biographies

Hildegard’s Music and Other Work

Example of CHANT also known as PLAINCHANT

Unusual for chant because women are singing

Women in Hildegard’s church sang several hours a day, so there was a great need for Hildegard to compose music

This form of chant is colorful and uses a large MELODIC RANGE

Kyrie Eleison means Lord Have Mercy

Monophonic Texture

Part of the Roman Catholic Mass

Listening Example ~ Kyrie Eleison

By Hildegard von Bingen

Listening Example - Kyrie Eleison

Can you recognize this song?

Modern Day Chant