The Middle Ages: Historical, Sociocultural Aspects, and Music

1. Mark with an X the chronological period of the Middle Ages. From the late 5th c to the 15th

2. Describe the historical and sociocultural aspects of this period of history by answering the following questions. a) Why do you think the cultural life of this period was mainly concentrated in monasteries and abbeys? Because the monks cultivated the arts and science using manuscripts from ancient Greece and Rome. b) On the social scene in this period, what was Europe like? Europe was fragmented into many small territories dominated by powerful feudal lords who fought amongst themselves. c) What were the Crusades? Military expeditions led by Christian kings attempting to recover holy places in and around Jerusalem. d) This period has two stages: the Early Middle Ages and the Late Middle Ages. Can you give the name of the artistic movement that tried to inspire man to look to the heavens? And what did they build to symbolize this? The Gothic period. They built the cathedrals.

3. Answer the following questions 3.1. Gregorian chants were the religious music of this period. a) In what language were they usually sung? In Latin b) Give two adjectives that best define the character of this music. Peaceful, relaxed. c) Why did the church prohibit singing by women and the use of instruments? Because it was thought that this would distract the faithful in the worship. d) There are mainly two ways of singing these chants. What are they? Direct and responsorial. e) There are mainly two ways to combine melodies with text. What were these styles? Syllabic and melismatic. f) Gregorian chants were sung at two important times. What were they? At Holy Mass and the Divine Office. g) Name of the first king of polyphony in which a second voice is added to the first at an interval of a 4th or 5th. Organum.

4. The songs of the troubadours were the profane music of this period. a) In what language were they usually sung? In the vulgar tongue of their area (different in each country). b) What themes did they usually use? Knightly ideas, war, and love. c) What are the troubadours in the north of France called? Trouvères. d) Name one important troubadour from Spain. Martin Codax de Vigo or King Alfonso X the Wise. e) What were the troubadours in Germany called? Minnesangers. f) What was the rhythm of profane music influenced by? By dance. g) What was the theme of the cantigas? The miracles achieved through the intervention of the Virgin Mary.

5. Instruments of the Middle Ages. a) In Spain, the name of the bowed instrument sounded by turning a handle that rubs against the string. Hurdy-gurdy (zanfond). b) A plucked string instrument of Arabic origin. Lute. c) Goblet-shaped drums in wood or ceramics played against the shoulder. Darbuka. d) In the wind family, a kind of straight trumpet used to announce the arrival of a prince or king. Buccina. e) In the wind family, Galician bagpipes decorated with the carved heads of men and animals. Cornamuse.

6. Answer the following questions a) Surname of an important composer and theoretician pertaining to the Ars Nova period, also a diplomat and soldier. De Vitry. b) In contrast to the organum, what movement does the discantus follow? A contrary movement. c) Name the pattern used to graphically represent the sound in Gregorian chants. Tetragram. d) Surname of an important composer and theoretician pertaining to the Ars Antiqua period, who initiated the creative phase of religious music. Leonin.

7. Cantiga Santa Maria Strela do Dia La, Sol, Fa, Mi, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Re, Re, La, Sol, Fa, Mi, Re, Mi, Fa, Mi, Re, Do, Re, Re; Sol, La, Si, La, Do´, Si, La, Si, Sol, Sol, Sol, La, Si., La, Do´, Si, La, Sol, La, La; Si, Do´, Re´, Si, Do´, Re´, Do´, Si, La, Si, Si, Si, Si, Si, La, Do´, Si, La, Si, Sol, Sol

8. Ay Linda Amiga La, La, So´, Si, Si, Sol, La, Sol, Fa, Mi, Mi, La, La, Do´, Si, Si, Si, Sol; La, Sol, Fa, Mi, Mi, Do´, Do´, Si, Sol, La, La, Do´, Do´, Si, Sol, La, Mi, La, La, Sol, Sol; Mi, Re, Fa, La, Sol, Fa, Mi, Mi, La, La, Sol, Sol, Mi, Re, Fa, La, La, Sol, La