Medieval and Renaissance Music: Gregorian Chant & Polyphony

Medieval and Renaissance Music

Gregorian chant is monophonic singing, without instrumental accompaniment, in Latin and used in the Catholic liturgy. Pope Gregory I unified the chants across Europe.

The Mass always has the same structure. The chants of the Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei) are unchanged. The singing itself varies depending on the text of the liturgical year, or according to the festivities of the saints (Introitus, Graduale, Alleluia, Offertorium, and Communio)

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Music Definitions: A Comprehensive List

Music Definitions

Here are some definitions of musical terms:

  1. Aria – A long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically in an opera or oratorio.
  2. Art Song (Lied) – A song written to be sung in recital, typically with piano accompaniment and often set to a poem.
  3. Atonality – Not written in any key or mode.
  4. Basso Continuo – (In baroque music) An accompanying part that includes a bass line and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument and with other instruments such as cello or bass viol.
  5. Cadenza
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Flamenco Vocals, Palms, Guitar, and Origins: A Deep Dive

Flamenco Vocals: Exploring Different Voice Types

Let’s delve into the diverse vocal styles within flamenco:

  • Afillá: A raspy, frayed, or very severe voice.
  • Laine: A high-pitched and vibrant voice.
  • Round: A manly and harmonic voice.
  • Natural: A voice balanced between the round and afillá styles.
  • Falsetto: Used to compensate for a lack of natural vocal range.

Flamenco Palms (Palmas): Types and Techniques

The different types of flamenco palms include:

  • Redouble palms
  • Deaf palms
  • Dry palms

Understanding the Flamenco

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Humanism and Renaissance: Art, Society, and Spread

Humanism

Humanism was a philosophical and cultural movement that started in Italy in the 14th century.

Characteristics

  • Anthropocentrism: They rejected theocentric mentality.
  • Classical Antiquity: Greek and Latin texts inspired by the philosophers of antiquity, Plato and Aristotle.
  • Scientific Curiosity: They were interested in science and technological progress.

Origin

During the 15th century, it spread to three different regions:

  • Florence
  • Rome
  • Naples

Spread

  • The use of the Romance languages: (French, Spanish,
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Masterpieces of Music History: Baroque to Modern

Contents

  • Baroque: Vivaldi and The Four Seasons, Bach and The Well-Tempered Clavier, Handel and Messiah
  • Classical: Haydn and the “Emperor Quartet”, Mozart and Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Beethoven and Symphony No. 5
  • Romantic: Schubert and “Erlkönig”, Chopin and Polonaise in A flat major, Berlioz and Symphonie fantastique, Bizet and Carmen
  • Modern: Debussy and Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, Stravinsky and The Rite of Spring, Bernstein and West Side Story, Louie and Music for Piano, Adams and Short
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Dissonance Treatment in Counterpoint: 15th Century to Fux

Question 1: Describe the treatment of dissonance in counterpoint treatises from the late fifteenth century through Fux, Gradus ad Parnassum.

Counterpoint is a set of context-dependent rules: rhythm, melodic contour, harmonic relation to other voices. Harmony is incidental to independent melodic lines, perspective, and order of composition. Stylistic and technical considerations include imitation, motivic concerns, mode, and text. Different parts have different roles; for example, Tenor first, cantus

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