Music in Ancient Times: A Glimpse at History
Ancient Times: OG776BC, AG1000BC, JC55BC, WRE476AD, R11thCAD, G12thAD.
Culture in Ancient Times
Music in the Greek Civilization
In ancient Greece, music was present at important events in daily life: Weddings, Funerals, Religious ceremonies, Theatre, popular music, recitals of epic poetry.
Music and Philosophy
A number of ancient philosophers wrote about music, including Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle. Their work on music has played an important role in its development.
Music and Mythology
Music includes some important references to music, for example, the story of Orpheus. He played the lyre so well that he could charm wild beasts.
Music in the Roman Era
Military uses, funerals, public performances, gladiator shows, religious ceremonies, education.
The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is one of the longest historical periods of our era and they include a number of cultural movements we will study next.
Ars Antiqua
Started to be used in the 14th century AD. This style is associated with the Notre Dame Cathedral school. The term only refers to sacred music and therefore excludes the music of the troubadours.
Ars Nova
Invented the name PhilippedeVitry and JeandeMuris. 14th century AD. The sound is richer and more complex. Its musical texture includes four or more independent voices. Rhythmic develops.
Secular Music
Goliards, jongleurs and minstrels, troubadours and trouveres, minnesinger.
Music in the Middle Ages
More complex systems of music transcription were developed because of the need to remember melodies accurately and to preserve them. Notes: Do(C)/Re(D)/Mi(E)/Fa(F)/Sol(G)/La(A)/Si(B).
Melody
The relationships between intervals, The melodic range, that is to say, the relationship between the lowest and the highest notes of a melody (Narrow, medium, wide). The contour or shape.
Greek Modes
(Descending) The distance are of a tone or a tone and a half in the intervals. Each mode consists of seven notes. They establish the bases for musical scales.
Medieval Modes
Ascending. Two basic notes: the tenor and the final.
Rhythm
Ancient Greece: there are no beats. Music remains mostly off the beat. The meter was not specified. The instrumental accompanied the voice with the same rhythm (homorhythm). Gregorian Chant: there aren’t beats. Music remains mostly off the beat. The meter wasn’t specified. Homorhythm. Troubadours: there are beats. Music is on the beat. The meter was ¾ in modern notation (not supposed to be written in the period) Polyrhythm. Ars Antiqua: There are soft beats. Music is on the beat. There isn’t written meter but we can guess some meter. Homorhythm. Ars Nova: There are soft beats. Music is on the beat. The meter was ¾ in modern notation (not supposed to be written in the period) Polyrhythm.
Texture
Is the way the different musical elements are combined in a composition. Ancient Greece: Monophonic.
Timbre
Ancient Times: The Pan pipes, anulos, organ, cornu, tympan, lyre. Middle Ages: STRING Harp, lute, psaltery, vielle. WIND TRUMPET, Bagpipes, recorder, cornett. Percussion Cymbalum, Timbrel.