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Considered the beginning of the Medieval Era
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Chant is a plainsong in which a melody is performed in free rhythm. Plainchant is a monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song. Most often used in the church, Chant was used in monasteries, cathedrals, and chapels as well. Usually, in Latin text, Chant was modal and A cappella (in the style of the chapel). Textual emphasis was made through long melismas to which melodies declaimed the words. Gregorian Chant was a specific Roman chant cataloged by Pope Gregory
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Music was extensively used in the church. Music was viewed as eithr Divine (coming from God) or Cosmic (actively being created in the movements of the stars and planets). General rules for music theory did not exist. Additionally, the way music was notated was fluid and not standardized completely.
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A unique arrangement of pitch relationships (whole or half step for example although not certain), categorized into 8 modes.
Authentic:
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Plagal:
Hypodorian
Hypophrygian
Hypolydian
Hypomixolydian -
Organum was a plainchant with an added melody which resulted in a piece sung in parallel 4ths and 5ths.
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In the written staff, the notes were called neumes and do not look like modern notation
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Credited with "inventing the staff", Guido d'Arezzo was a Benedictine monk and music theorist.
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Credited to Guido d'Arezzo, the first staff was written in diastematic notation using 4 stacked lines one being red (F) and one being yellow (C).
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Discovered in 2014, the earliest example of organum is believed to date back to the early 1000's. This chant was dedicated to Boniface, the patron Saint of Germany.
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The Rebec is a bowed string instrument of the medieval and early renaissance instrument invented in the 11th century.
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Hildegard von Bingen was an Abbess famous for her prophetic powers. She traveled often teaching, which was forbidden for women, and writing liturgical dramas and religious poetry. Her music has a much wider range than Gregorian Chant and included wider leaps, more expression, and might have been rhythmic.
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The Shawm is a double-reed wind instrument invented in the 12th century known for its volume and for being the predecessor of the Oboe.
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A cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Leonin was the first composer of polyphonic music (whose name we know). Credited with compiling the Mangus liber organi (1170).
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Vaqueires was a Frenchman who served the court in Montferrat and was eventually killed in battle. He wrote at least 35 poems and 7 with music that we know of.
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construction finished in Paris in 1163.
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This sacred polyphonic music usually had 2 - 3 voices and included rhythmic modes as well as text in various languages.
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Also a cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Perotin was another composer of polyphonic music for the church.
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Vitry was the first composer of Ars Nova and created the treaty of new music. He was a French priest.
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Translated as "new art", this new style included rhythmic polyphony in the motets. Composers would often draw shapes with their scores as well as use the motet as a means to experiment and innovate (such as the isorhythmic motet).
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French priest and composer Guillaume de Machaut was the most famous composer and poet at the time. Composed more than 20 extant motets, several extant chansons, and one of the first polyphonic mass cycles.
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A musical treaty outline general rules of ars nova and contained musical examples. Credited to Philippe de Vitry.
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The predecessor to the violin, the Vielle is a string instrument with a flat bridge and tuning pegs on top of the neck end.
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The Bubonic plague was an illness carried by fleas, passed to rats, and then to humans killing over 75 million people (one-third of the population).
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First renaissance composer
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Ockegham was very respected and prolific
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Renaissance (meaning rebirth" harbored new complex currents of thought concerning arts, science, and religion. Chants were paraphrased, new rhythms were added, and the emphasis shifted from function to beauty. More voices (5-8) were becoming the norm as well as transformed melodies being in the top voice.
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The psaltery is a medieval string instrument plucked almost like a harp.
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da Vinci was an Italian artist, scientist, and inventor in the Renaissance period.
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Willaert was considered the father of text expression
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A later medieval instrument, the dulcimer is a stringed instrument often plucked or hit with a hammer.
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Invented around the 16th century, the Crumhorn is a curved double-reed instrument often considered the predecessor to the bag pipe.
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Palestrina was the most famous composer from the Renaissance with a Roman-style composed mostly contrapuntal liturgical music.
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This large lute is a plucked string instrument with many bass resonance strings. Invented in the 15th century.
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Shakespeare wrote very musical plays often composed by another composer.