gothic period music irene milidakis cultural studies
TRANSCRIPT
Gothic Period Music
Irene MilidakisCultural Studies
Building onto Traditions• Gothic Period Music derived
from its preceding Romanesque practices
• Gregorian Chant: simple, monophonic liturgical music • Also known as plainchant • Sang in unison- monophonic• One melody- no harmony• Soloist and chorus singing in unison
would respond to each other • Unaccompanied by instruments - acapella Gregorian Chant-Alleluia: Angelus Domini
Musical notation was introduced by Guido d’Arezzo- Depicted notes on a staff of lines
Organum- The Beginnings of Polyphony
• Chants became more complex in the early 12th century
• The beginning signs of a transition to the Gothic period
• Harmony “Organum” –• Added an upper melody on top
of a cantus firmus (“fixed song”)• Two different pitches sung by
two singers- “organa duplum”• Simple harmoniesEarly Organum - example of Oblique Organum
Complex Progression
• Ars Antiqua (1175-1315)• Beginnings of polyphony• Simple organums• Triple Meter (3/4)• Mostly used two voices• Rapid transitions in music
notation and theory • Beginning use of rhythmic
modes
• Ars Nova (1315-1430)• Cantus Firmus used less and
less• More complex rhythms• Duple Meter (2/4)• Use of many voices- “Motet”• More secular than sacred• Use of French and Latin
vernacular • Rota- round
School of Notre DameParis, France
• Notre Dame Cathedral considered epicenter of music organization in the Ars Antiqua period
• The most well known composers came from this school
• Complex musical notation was created
• First collections of music produced-
Magnus Liber Organi by Leonin c.1163
Great Masters of Notre Dame
• Leonin (ca.1163-1190)• Great master of Ars Antiqua
period• Help established polyphony• Use of improvisation- not
known to have written own music
• Use of organum duplum- cantus firmus found in lower voice while descanting voice moves freely
Leonin- Organum Duplum
• Perotin (ca. 13th century)• Great Master of Ars
Antiqua• Helped established
polyphony• Stricter melodic control
and clearer rhythms• Added a third voice- three
part motet• Still had a cantus firmusPérotin-Alleluia nativitas
Ars Nova: Breaking from Tradition
• Innovations- • greater independence
of rhythm and polyphony lines
• Tempus imperfectum- duple meter
• Cantus firmus no longer used
• Notable Composers-• Guillaume de Machaut-Subtle and strict melodic and
rhythmic compositionsKyrie, from "Messe de Nostre
Dame“• Philippe de Vitry-Complex and fluid melodic and
rhythmic compositions-Developed way of writing
rhythm on musical staffsTuba sacre fidei
Discussion Question
• What may have contributed to the growing interest in innovating music?
Discussion Question
• What may have contributed to the growing interest in innovating music? - Increase in intellectual thought- formation of the university
brought intellectuals who contributed to the growing musical developments
- Composers were open to daring innovation- as evident in Leonin’s interest in improvisation
- Economical growth- The church was growing stronger (along with the cities) which brought in funds, offerings to assist in developing the arts
- All other facets of the arts were expanding themselves– the architecture --
Reaching the Heavens
• Connected to the architecture-• Sense of verticality heard in
music similar to architecture- They both reached towards heaven
• Subjects of these new hymns were often dedicated to Virgin Mary as were most Cathedrals
• Growing complexity of music mirrored the growing textual complexity of the cathedrals’ architecture
Breaking Away from the Church• Gothic period music was primarily created
for liturgy purposes but there was a secularization that was occurring throughout the 13th century.
• Courtly society brought about a need for secular entertainment- minstrels
• These minstrels would sing and dance often accompanied by instrumentals- folk and popular music
• Troubadors appear in Germany in the 12th c. and call themselves minnesingers – “singers of love”- secular lyrical poetry
• Troubadors would often be employed by the court as minstrels
• Tant m'abelis
Discussion Question
• What similarities are heard in the troubadour song that are similar to the polyphonic music of the Ars Nova period?
Discussion Question
• What similarities are heard in the troubadour song that are similar to the polyphonic music of the Ars Nova period? - Rhythmic and melodic complexity- Singers exhibiting vocal ability- vocal range, constant
change in pitch and tone
Contributions• Gothic period music greatly contributed to
the developments in musical study- • All music today (both religious and secular)
would still sound like the Gregorian Chant if polyphony was not developed.
• Written collections of music made it possible to access and continue the musical tradition of this period and its succeeding periods.
• Secularization would contribute to the massive expansion of music creation- we often forget where contemporary music derives from- not from the church but from the individual
Discussion Question
• How is our culture still aware of these music traditions today?
Discussion Question
• How is our culture still aware of these music traditions today?• Many European traditions would be brought over
including its religion• Gothic period music was still largely a part of the
religious tradition so it was one of the many art forms that were utilized by churches all over the world
• Classical music was derived from church music - continuation of polyphony in instrumental form
References
• Cunningham, Lawrence, and John J. Reich. Culture & Values: a Survey of the Humanities / Lawrence S. Cunningham, John J. Reich. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.
• http://www.classicalscore.com/gothicera.htm
• http://musiced.about.com/od/faqs/f/plainchant.htm