Middle Ages to Early Polyphony:
Chapter 4:
Two historical period:
Gregorian Chant is named after Pope Gregory I:
- credited by medieval legend with having created chant (even though it evolved over many centuries)
Texture of early plainchant:
Kyrie Eleison
- words are in Greek (not Latin)
Melismatic
- many notes sung to a single syllable
Secular Song
- 12th century
- troubadours (poet-musicians)
- trouvères in Northern France
- wrote own poetry and music
- primary topic = courtly love
Female Troubadour:
- Beatriz de Dia
- trobairitz (female troubadour)
- late 12th century
- “strophic”, same music repeated for all stanzas of the poem
- Occitan sometimes called Provençal
vielle, bowed instrument and a low wooden flute
Polphony arose in 10th century, around 1200 A.D.
Who Wrote the great book of Polyphony?
Viderunt Omnes
- free flowing
- marked by very clear-cut rhythms
Late Medieval:
- Guillaume de Machat
- administrator, poet, and composer