Music in middle Ages and Renaissance

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Music History
Music in middle Ages and Renaissance
Generally speaking, music has a long history and it is asserted by various theories that it came into being or existed even before the existence of mankind. According to historiographers, there are six notable periods that contributes to what music it is today. These periods include medieval/middle ages where music was characterized by the beginning of musical notation together with polyphony (Kamien 21). At this time, music styles were only of two types, polyphonic and monophonic.
A second period was renaissance which mean rebirth. During this time a lot of changes did take place in terms of music creation and how it was being perceived. The third period is derived from an Italian word baracco and was coined to baroque which mean bizarre (Kamien 41). It was during this era that those who composed music did experiment music with form, style as well as a variety of instruments, this period saw to it the coming to use of opera and instrumental music which gained popularity.
The classical period ranged between 1750 and 1820. Music during this era was characterized by melodies that were simpler as well as simple forms for instance the sonatas. Piano was the basic instrument that was used in composing music in this period. The period between 1800 and 1900 has been defined by historiographers as romantic era. Music developed in this era was solemnly used to reach the audience with a story or expressing once idea. This was attained by use of a number of instrument including wind instruments. It is worth noting that melodies were deemed to be full and full of drama. Lastly, the 20th centaury is an era in music that innovation came to play leading to appreciation of music. Technology use enhanced music composition and artist were more daring to experiment (Kamien 234).
Middle Ages are a period between 450 and 1450. Among the events that make us recall this period include the first crusade in 1066, Black Death that took place between 1347 and 1352, execution of Joan of Arch by English in 1431. In 455 Rome was sacked by Vandals. This was a period mainly faced with wars and mass human migration (Kamien 371). Additionally, the time was characterized by very strong class distinction which includes nobility, peasantry and clergy. In terms of architecture, this period was made up of Romanesque in the earlier period and gothic in later period. Concerning visual arts, iconic or symbolic and not realism were stressed. It is also in this time that technological innovation saw a lot of progress.
The time line for renaissance a period deemed to span between 1450 to 1600 is characterized by Guttenberg Bible in 1456, Columbus reaching America in 1492, Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa 1503, Michelangelo: David 1504, Raphael: school of Athens in 1517, Shakespeare with Romeo and Juliet in 1596 (Kamien 328). Renaissance is characterized by rebirth of human learning and innovation, great explorers, humanism and fascination. It was during this time that visual art became more realistic; mythology was a favorite subject, nude body as in ancient time was depicted. Similarly, weakening of the Catholic Church, education and literacy status symbols led to invention of printing press characterized this period.
Music in middle ages was dominated with church musical activities. It is worth noting that priests constituted most musicians and women were not allowed to sing in situation where the church constituted a mixture of both sexes. Additionally, music was fundamentally vocal and sacred while no instruments were being used inside church. An example of music during the time was Gregorian chant which was the official music of Roman Catholic Church (Kamien 321). The music is no longer common since the second Vatican council. The music was monophonic melody with a Latin text, flexible rhythm without meter and beat. It is worth noting that this music was named for Pope Gregory. This music had no musical notation. The basis of the music was otherworldly sound and in terms of scale it was different than the modern scales. Dorian and Aeolian modes were incorporated in the music.
Many notes per syllable of the text, ternary form ABA and monophonic texture were evident in music of this period. Similarly, the music was originally written without accompaniments and recording included a drone-long and sustained notes. The melody had an extended range usually written for nuns by a nun to be sung in convent. Secular music in the middle ages is characterized by Troubadours and Trouveres from southern France and northern France respectively (Kamien 76). Topic included courtly love, crusade, and dancing. Nobles wrote poems/song for court use and were performed by jongleurs.
Estampie is dance music in medieval period. It was characterized by triple meter with strong beat probably for dancing. It was notated as chant with only a single melody line. Those who dance and performed did improvised accompaniments to make the music lively. The instruments used included rebec a bowed string instrument and a pipe, tabular wind instrument and drone on psaltery a plucked or struck string instrument. From 700 to 900, a second line added to chant; this period saw the development of polyphony and characterized by paralleled chant line at varied pitch, this was an improvement of the initial art. Between 900 and 1200, the added line developed in a more independent manner (Kamien 54). At that time, contrary motion, then a separate melodic curve came into existence, additionally, note-against-note was abandoned. The new part moved faster and in top voice as compared to the chant line.
It was during the school of Notre Dame that rhythmic notation was developed by Parisian composers. It is important to have in mind Chant notation only indicated pitch but not rhythm. The two leaders and choirmasters Leonin and Perotin wrote music with notated rhythm hence the Notre Dame style. The thoughts in medieval was that interval of third dissonant but modern chords built of thirds are now deemed consonants. A new art in France during the fourteenth century constitute composers writing music not basing on chants but heavily borrowed secular melodies to put in sacred music (Kamien 502). At this time, new music notation system developed which allowed for better rhythmic notation and syncopation. The resultant music was termed as ars nova. Among the contributors include Guillaume de Machaut a composer who lived between 1300 and 1377. He wrote sacred as well as secular music and well known for his Notre Dame Mass.
Music in renaissance is a period characterized by the growing in size of church choir only made up of men. Additionally, the rise of the individual patron was evident at the time and musical center went to courts from the church. Court composers developed both sacred and secular music. It is worth noting that in a mixed church setting, women were not allowed to sing. In the sixteenth century, Italy was the capital for music with other regions such as England, Spain and German equally playing an important role (Kamien 621). At that period, musicians were considered to be persons of higher social status and received more pay than their predecessors. Those who composed music were hailed for their work as most of them were Franco-Flemish.
Renaissance music was characterized by vocal music, word painting or text painting rather than instrumental. In terms of texture, polyphonic dominated and vocal a cappella. When instruments were present, they doubled the vocal part of the music. When considering rhythm and melody of renaissance music, rhythm flowed and overlapped. Those who composed music were less concerned with metric accents. It was also smooth, stepwise as melodies overlapped rhythmically between voices.
Additionally, two main forms of sacred music during renaissance are evident. Motet which was a short polyphonic choral work in Latin text is one of the forms. It was overlaid with vernacular text and in most cases borrowed lowest voice parts from a chant (Kamien 241). The second form mass was the catholic worship service and it was deemed to be a long work comprising of five main parts of service; Angus De, Sanctus, Credo, Gloria and Kyrie.
Another contributor of renaissance music was Josquin Desprez. He lived between 1440 and 1521. He wrote secular as well as sacred music. This person worked with the papal choir in Rome and for King Louis XII of France. It is worth noting that his works influenced other composers due to his creativity at the time and was hailed by Martin Luther. Palestrina is deemed to be a culminator of renaissance music and lived between 1525 and 1594 working in Rome and became music director at St. Peter`s (Kamien 182). His works addressed abuses and malpractice in church, emerging Protestantism and the role played by music in worship. Most of his composition did meet the demands of Trent and hence becoming the model for mass composers.
Secular music of renaissance (Madrigal) was intended for amateur`s performers. It is characterized by extensive use of text painting, printing and originated from Italy. Instrumental music also saw some changes during renaissance. This kind of music is still a subordinate where instruments accompanied voices (Kamien 142). At certain occasions, adapted vocal music alone was played. Published music stated that several sections of the music could be sung and or played. This kind of music existed purely for dancing and the later became more popular during renaissance. There was a clear difference between loud outdoor instruments and softer indoor ones. On the same note composers did not specify instrumentation.
The instruments used during renai...