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Medieval Music
300 AD - XIV century
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1.
Sacred Music of the Middle Ages
Temples and monasteries became centers for the development of professional musical art of church music in the Middle Ages. Here the notation of music was born and developed, the first musical composers appeared, monophonic liturgical singing- singing alone without accompanying harmony or chords, was born.
In church music of the Middle Ages dominated monophonic singing.
There arose Gregorian chant. On its basis, other genres have developed, such as the Mass, created specifically for certain holidays and services.
All hymns in church services were sung a cappella, without accompaniment by any instrument, usually by male monks in Latin.
Over time, the Catholic Church introduced another instrument into worship, in addition to the human voice - this is the organ, which is still used today.
I want to note that we are talking about European medieval music, but this does not mean that only it developed. All over the world, this period, which lasted almost a thousand years, was a huge heyday not only for music , but for all art. European music interests us by the fact primarily, because it still echoes in modern music; and secondly, historical documents and musical examples allow us more accurately represent time of that era.
So what kind of music sounded in medieval castles, monasteries, churches and on the streets of cities of that time? Who was the man of the Middle Ages? He was a deeply religious man. And the whole character of medieval culture, art and education is determined by dependence on the Christian church. The reasons for this are simple. The fact is that the power of the church at that time becomes so great that it penetrates into all spheres of life. Was it good for the music? Let's figure it out.
All music of that time was divided into two parts: ecclesiastical -is written for performance in church
and secular - is any music not written for the church.
The church discouraged secular music.
Gregorian Chant
The non-religious(secular) music of the Middle Ages
was mainly the music of wandering musicians and was
distinguished by freedom, individualization and
emotionality. Also, secular music was part of the
knightly culture of the feudal lords. Secular music was
performed by mimes, jugglers, minstrels, troubadours (in France), minnesingers (in German countries). These artists had to not only be able to sing, play and dance, but also be able to show circus performances, tricks, theater scenes, and had to entertain the public in other ways.
The non-religious
(secular) music
Minstrel
Troubadour and minstrels
Music of medieval troubadours
2.
Founder of linear notation - Guido of Arezzo (995-1050)
Many of the musical works created in the Middle Ages, we can perform now thanks to musical notation - it has existed since the 10th century
During the Middle Ages, linear musical notation was born, which over time developed and gradually acquired the form that we use today: a five-line staff and round notes on it. Let's remember the name of the man who was the founder of modern musical writing and who lived in the distant years of the Middle Ages. His name is Guido of Arezzo, he was an Italian music theorist and pedagogue.
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Musical achievements of the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages left a significant legacy for future generations of musicians.
First, a musical notation was created that gave a clearer idea of the height and duration of sounds and rhythm. Subsequently, it will still change, and only in the 17-18 centuries, musical notation will acquire the form to which we are accustomed.
Since the Middle Ages, many examples of church music have come down to us. This happened because the church monks recorded the music with notes and then the churches carefully kept it for many centuries.
Things were not going so well with secular music. Often it was not recorded but passed from mouth to mouth. Some works of troubadours have come down to us.
Over time, the Gregorian chant added several independent vocal parts and gave rise to polyphony, which composers of other generations would develop. The culmination of this was the work of J. S. Bach. These chants laid the foundation for classical music - serious and sublime music.
At monasteries and cathedrals, schools of musicians arose in which the first professional musicians and composers were formed.
More than 1000 years of the Middle Ages for musical art meant a long and very intense evolution of musical thinking - from monody - monophony - to the most complex forms of polyphony. During this period, many musical instruments were formed and improved, musical genres took shape - from the simplest forms of choral monophony to multi-part polyphonic genres that combined both vocal and instrumental sound - mass, passions.
The Middle Ages was a bloody and cruel time. But still romantic and beautiful, especially when it comes to music and art. All knightly and castle themes did not disappear in the future. Yes, it changed as ideals and time changed, but it still reached our time. But the most important thing is that medieval art created everything necessary for the emergence of the next era - "an era that needed titans and which gave birth to titans". And the name of this new era is the Renaissance.
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