Medieval and Renaissance Music: Instruments, Forms, and Composers

Medieval Music: Instruments, Forms, and Composers

A successful minstrel was an all-too-good storyteller, knowing how to play the drums and cymbals.

Medieval Instruments

• Hurdy-gurdy (Zanfona)
• Cornett (Cornetto)
• Citole (Citole)

What is an Organum?

It is a polyphonic form to make the second part of plainchant more interesting.

Composers in Ars Nova

• Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
• Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361)
• Francesco Landini (1335-1397)

Matching Characteristics of Medieval Music

• Nawbas: Muslim kingdoms - secular songs
• A book copied in the 14th century with 150 pages: Llibre Vermell
• Visigoth chant: Sacred song
• 400 monophonic songs: Cantigas de Santa Maria
• Codex Calixtinus
• Codex Las Huelgas: Polyphonic music

A characteristic that does not correspond to Renaissance music is monophonic texture - plainchant.

Protestant Reformation Music

The tunes were sometimes newly composed, sometimes adapted to plainchant or even popular songs.

What is an Anthem?

It is sung by the choir without accompaniment, expressing positive feelings of joy and celebration.

Renaissance Music: Instruments, Forms, and Composers

What are Madrigals?

They were often about love and were sung in small groups without instruments.

Renaissance Dance

Ricercar: It was an Italian word, similar in style to a motet.

Renaissance Instruments

• Pipe
• Tabor
• Viol

Characteristics of Renaissance Music in Spain

• Sacred music: Mass and motet played in church
• Secular music: Romance, villancico, ensalada
• Music for instruments: There were variations on popular tunes

Key Terms

• Monody: Single-voice line supported by an instrumental bass-line
• Recitative: Style of writing for the voice
• Basso continuo: A type of melody to play with a low string instrument
• Stile moderno: The new monody, with its switch to melody accompanied by chords

Baroque Music: Instruments, Forms, and Composers

What is a Castrato?

A male soprano or contralto whose voice was preserved by castration before puberty.

What is a Countertenor?

A high male voice, very popular in Baroque times.

Key Terms

• Sonata: Contained contrasting sections or movements
• Sonata da camera: A sonata based on dance
• Sonata da chiesa: A sonata that is more solemn
• Suite: A set of dances
• Concerto grosso: A small group of instruments
• Solo concerto: A concerto featuring a single soloist
• Fugue: Polyphonic, usually for a keyboard

The Baroque orchestra consisted mainly of string instruments.

The harpsichord was popular in Baroque times.

Zarzuela is a lyric-dramatic genre.