Medieval Music (500–1400) (Junior Cert Music): Revision Notes

Mediaeval Music (500–1400)

• The Mediaeval period was the first major era in Western music history.
• It began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD and lasted until 1400.
• This period, also called the Middle Ages, saw the development of:
  1. Early music notation,
  2. Sacred choral music, and
  3. The rise of secular music.

Historical Context

• The fall of the Roman Empire in 476 marks the beginning of the Middle Ages or Medieval era.
• The period 476–800 is often called the 'Dark Ages', as there was a decline in education and culture.
• Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1163 and 1345, becoming a centre for sacred music.
• The Black Death spread across Europe between 1347 and 1351, significantly impacting society and culture.

Types of Music in the Mediaeval Period

1. Sacred Music – Religious music, performed in churches and monasteries.
2. Secular Music – Non-religious music, used for entertainment, dancing, and storytelling. Sacred music was mostly written down, while secular music was passed on orally by musicians.

Sacred Music in the Mediaeval Period

• Performed in churches and monasteries.
• Typically unaccompanied (no instruments).
• Monophonic texture – A single melody with no harmonies.
• Known as Gregorian chant or plainsong.

Gregorian Chant

• Gregorian chant, also called plainchant or plainsong, is one of the oldest forms of sacred music.
• It was traditionally sung by monks and nuns in monasteries or by church choirs.
• Gregorian chant was an important part of church services in the Middle Ages.

Key Features of Gregorian Chant:

1. Monophonic texture – There is only one melody line, with no harmonies.
2. Unaccompanied singing – There are no instruments used.
3. Free rhythm – There is no regular beat, pulse, or metre. The music follows the natural rhythm of the words.
4. Sung in Latin – The lyrics are based on religious texts.
5. Small melodic range – The melody mostly moves by step rather than large leaps.
6. Sung in unison – All singers sing the same melody at the same time.

Secular Music in the Mediaeval Period

• Performed by travelling musicians known as troubadours and minstrels.
• Included folk songs, ballads, and dance music.
• Often featured instruments alongside singing.
• Had a stronger rhythm compared to sacred music.

Instruments Used in Secular Music

• Harp – String instrument used for accompaniment.
• Vielle – An early version of the violin.
• Flutes (including recorders).
• Shawm – An early form of the oboe.
• Bagpipes, trumpets, organ, and drums were also common.

Development of Music in the Mediaeval Period

• Around 1030, Christian monks developed staff notation, making it easier to write down music.
• Early notation used neumes (symbols placed above text to indicate pitch changes).
• Harmony and polyphony (more than one melody played at the same time) developed towards the end of the period.

Famous Mediaeval Composers

Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179)

• German nun, composer, and writer.
• Composed sacred music with more expressive melodies than traditional Gregorian chant.
• Known for her visionary and mystical style. Example: O Successores

Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300–1377)

• French composer who wrote both sacred and secular music.
• Developed polyphony, writing multiple independent melody lines.
• One of the first composers to write a complete mass setting. Example: Messe de Nostre Dame

Comparison of Sacred and Secular Music

Feature	Sacred Music (Church Music)	Secular Music (Entertainment Music)
Where it was performed	Churches, monasteries	Courts, villages, streets
Purpose	Religious worship	Entertainment and dancing
Texture	Monophonic (one melody line)	Monophonic or early polyphony
Instruments	None (a cappella)	Harp, flute, vielle, drums, shawm
Rhythm	Free rhythm (no steady beat)	Stronger rhythm, more lively
Example	Gregorian Chant	Troubadour songs

Why Mediaeval Music Matters

• The development of musical notation allowed music to be written and preserved.
• Gregorian chant influenced later church music and is still performed today.
• Secular music introduced rhythm, instruments, and storytelling elements that influenced modern folk and popular music.