Medieval and Renaissance Music: Chant, Troubadours, Polyphony
Music in the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages cover the period from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (fifth century) until the fourteenth century. The organization of society was feudal. Artistically, this era saw the development of Romanesque and Gothic styles. In monasteries, the singing of the liturgy in Gregorian chant was central, representing a compilation of songs from Christian influence. In the courts, troubadours—poets and musicians—composed and sang about themes of love and war.
Gregorian Chant Characteristics
- Texture: Monophonic (single melodic line).
- Voicing: Vocal (a cappella – without instrumental accompaniment).
- Theme: Religious text in Latin.
- Authorship: Anonymous.
- Rhythm: Free rhythm, dependent on the text.
- Melody: Fluid and modal.
- Function: Liturgical.
Troubadour Song Characteristics
- Texture: Monophonic.
- Voicing: Vocal, often with instrumental accompaniment.
- Theme: Secular (love, war, daily life).
- Language: Vernacular (local languages).
- Authorship: Known authors (troubadours).
- Rhythm: Marked rhythm.
- Melody: Modal, often with rhythmic accompaniment; sensual character.
Musical Textures and Genres
Monophony
- Religious Music: Gregorian chant (hymns, Mass settings).
- Secular Music: Troubadour songs.
Polyphony
- Religious Music: Organum, Conductus, Motet.
- Secular Music: Motet (can be secular), Ballade (often associated with dance), Canon.
Key Musical Figures
- Troubadour: A poet-musician, often of noble birth, who composed and performed their own songs, primarily in the courts of Southern France.
- Minstrel: A professional entertainer, often itinerant, who performed songs (sometimes composed by troubadours), stories, acrobatics, and comedy. They played from memory and travelled between castles and towns.
Music in the Renaissance
The Renaissance spans the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Secular society predominated, with a renewed interest in nature, humanism, and discoveries. Power was often held by influential bourgeois families and small courts. This period also saw the separation of the Catholic and Protestant churches (the Reformation).
Art, inspired by classical Greece and Rome, emphasized balance, proportion, and beauty. Painting, sculpture, and architecture were highly valued. Music became a sign of prestige, reflecting the wealth through the quality of instruments possessed and the composers and performers employed.
Musicians found employment in church chapels and courts. They often travelled with their patrons, which facilitated interaction and the exchange of musical ideas and compositions with other composers.
Instrumental Categories
- Alta Musica (Loud Music): Brilliant and powerful sound, featuring percussion and brass instruments. Used for outdoor events, festivals, and processions.
- Bassa Musica (Soft Music): Soft and delicate sound, featuring string and woodwind instruments. Used for indoor settings and intimate gatherings.
Secular Genres and Forms
Songs were composed in vernacular languages, expressing human emotions.
- Homophonic Textures: Characterized by a clear melody in the upper voice with simple accompaniment (e.g., Ballads, Spanish Villancicos).
- Counterpoint Textures: More complex textures where multiple independent melodic lines intertwine, aiming for the music and text to express the same emotion (e.g., Madrigal, Chanson).
Religious Genres and Forms
- Catholic Music: Featured simple contrapuntal polyphony to ensure the text (in Latin) was clear, sometimes accompanied by the organ (e.g., Mass settings, Motets).
- Protestant Music: Often featured homophonic texture with the melody prominent. Sung in vernacular languages and frequently based on popular melodies (e.g., Chorales).
Prominent Vocal Music Forms
Including: Madrigal (notable for its close relationship between text and music, aiming to express emotions vividly), Chanson (French secular song, often polyphonic), Villancico, Motet, Mass.
Prominent Instrumental Music Forms
Including: Tiento, Ricercar, Variations (diferencias), Dances, Instrumental adaptations of vocal music.