MUSIC MUSIC THROUGH THROUGH THE AGESTHE AGES

MEDIEVAL MUSICMEDIEVAL MUSIC(800-1450)(800-1450)

Church Music (Religious)Church Music (Religious) PLAINCHANT/SONGPLAINCHANT/SONG – Single line melody sung in – Single line melody sung in

latin by Monks. It was latin by Monks. It was A CAPPELLAA CAPPELLA and and MODALMODAL (not major or minor). It had free rhythm (no time (not major or minor). It had free rhythm (no time signatures or bar lines).signatures or bar lines).

Secular Music (Non Religious)Secular Music (Non Religious) This music consisted of songs. These songs were This music consisted of songs. These songs were

single line tunes usually accompanied by medieval single line tunes usually accompanied by medieval instruments i.e. harp, fiddle, tabor (a drum).instruments i.e. harp, fiddle, tabor (a drum).

One style of singing used in both secular and church One style of singing used in both secular and church music was music was MELISMAMELISMA..

RENAISSANCE MUSICRENAISSANCE MUSIC(1450-1600)(1450-1600)

RenaissanceRenaissance means ‘rebirth’. Composers of this period means ‘rebirth’. Composers of this period

began to take a greater interest in writing began to take a greater interest in writing secular musicsecular music

(non-religious) and instrumental music.(non-religious) and instrumental music.

MADRIGALMADRIGAL – The madrigal is a – The madrigal is a contrapuntal contrapuntal (many (many parts played/sung at the same time, moving in different parts played/sung at the same time, moving in different directions)directions) vocal piece which was usually vocal piece which was usually secularsecular. They . They were were through-composedthrough-composed, and can have a , and can have a fa-la-la refrainfa-la-la refrain..

BAROQUE MUSICBAROQUE MUSIC(1600-1750)(1600-1750)

During this period the system of modes finally fell away. ComposersDuring this period the system of modes finally fell away. Composersstarted to sharpen and flatten notes. The started to sharpen and flatten notes. The majormajor and and minorminor key system key system

was finally established.was finally established.

ORATORIOORATORIO – A work based on a sacred story (usually from the bible). It – A work based on a sacred story (usually from the bible). It included included recitativesrecitatives,, arias arias,, andand chorus chorus..

RECITATIVERECITATIVE – A type of speech-like singing, used in – A type of speech-like singing, used in operasoperas and and oratoriosoratorios. . Always sung before an Always sung before an ariaaria..

ARIAARIA – A song from an – A song from an operaopera, , musicalmusical, and , and oratoriooratorio..

CANTATACANTATA – A work for soloists and chorus accompanied by an orchestra and – A work for soloists and chorus accompanied by an orchestra and continuo – continuo – like a miniature oratoriolike a miniature oratorio..

FUGUEFUGUE – A – A contrapuntalcontrapuntal piece based on the idea of piece based on the idea of imitationimitation. Usually in 3 or . Usually in 3 or 4 parts. The entire piece grows from a single fairly brief tune called a 4 parts. The entire piece grows from a single fairly brief tune called a subjectsubject..

CHORALECHORALE – A German hymn tune. – A German hymn tune.

THE CLASSICAL PERIODTHE CLASSICAL PERIOD(1750-1810)(1750-1810)

This is a fairly brief period and features music of This is a fairly brief period and features music of HaydnHaydn,,MozartMozart, and the earlier compositions of , and the earlier compositions of BeethovenBeethoven..

MUSIC FOR PIANOMUSIC FOR PIANODuring the Classical period music for instruments became moreDuring the Classical period music for instruments became moreimportant than music for voices. Unlike a important than music for voices. Unlike a harpsichordharpsichord, the , the pianopianocould convey different expressions through loud and soft, and various could convey different expressions through loud and soft, and various

playingplayingtechniques (techniques (legatolegato//staccatostaccato).).

ALBERTI BASSALBERTI BASS – This consisted of simple – This consisted of simple broken chordsbroken chords repeated repeated in the left hand, keeping the music moving and supporting the melody.in the left hand, keeping the music moving and supporting the melody.

SONATASONATA – A work in several movements for – A work in several movements for one or two one or two instrumentsinstruments. E.g. . E.g. pianopiano or or violin and pianoviolin and piano..

THE CLASSICAL PERIODTHE CLASSICAL PERIOD(1750-1810)(1750-1810)

THE ORCHESTRATHE ORCHESTRAThe orchestra had now started to grow. An orchestra at the endThe orchestra had now started to grow. An orchestra at the endof the 18of the 18thth Century included: Century included:

2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 Kettle drums, strings2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 Kettle drums, strings

SYMPHONYSYMPHONY – A piece of music for – A piece of music for orchestraorchestra in 4 movements. in 4 movements.

CONCERTOCONCERTO – A piece in 3 movements featuring a – A piece in 3 movements featuring a solo solo instrument and orchestrainstrument and orchestra..

STRING QUARTETSTRING QUARTET – Music written for: – Music written for: 2 Violins2 Violins ViolaViola CelloCello

THE ROMANTIC PERIODTHE ROMANTIC PERIOD(1810-1910)(1810-1910)

The music of the Romantic period had a more powerful andThe music of the Romantic period had a more powerful andintense expression of emotions. Often the inspiration intense expression of emotions. Often the inspiration

behind abehind acomposition was sparked by a painting or a book or a poem.composition was sparked by a painting or a book or a poem.

THE ORCHESTRATHE ORCHESTRA – had increased in size. The brass – had increased in size. The brass section was now fully developed and brass instruments section was now fully developed and brass instruments had valves introduced.had valves introduced.

PROGRAMME MUSICPROGRAMME MUSIC – Music which ‘tells a story’ – Music which ‘tells a story’ or is in some way descriptive – conjures up pictures in or is in some way descriptive – conjures up pictures in the mind of the listener.the mind of the listener.

THE 20THE 20THTH CENTURY CENTURY(1900 onwards)(1900 onwards)

Music in the 20Music in the 20thth century is largely one of exploration and century is largely one of exploration andexperiment, leading to new ideas, techniques and sounds.experiment, leading to new ideas, techniques and sounds.

MICROTONEMICROTONE – The smallest interval in music. – The smallest interval in music.

ATONALATONAL – Music that is not in any key. – Music that is not in any key.

MINIMALISTMINIMALIST – A form of composition where the use of – A form of composition where the use of harmony, rhythm, melody and instrumentation is limited.harmony, rhythm, melody and instrumentation is limited.

ALEATORICALEATORIC – Music which involves an element of chance or – Music which involves an element of chance or unpredictability.unpredictability.

SPRECHGESANGSPRECHGESANG – Atonal, German 20 – Atonal, German 20thth Century singing. Century singing.

IMPRESSIONISMIMPRESSIONISM – This music sounds dreamy and is – This music sounds dreamy and is composed using the composed using the whole-tone scalewhole-tone scale. . DEBUSSYDEBUSSY is one of the is one of the most famous impressionist composers.most famous impressionist composers.