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Music History 2 > 1 - Middle Ages > Flashcards

1 - Middle Ages Flashcards

(54 cards)

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1
Q

Monophonic texture

A

Music consisting of a single line of melody

No harmony or accomp.

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2
Q

Polyphonic texture

A

Two or more independent melodic lines heard simultaneously

Aka contrapuntal texture

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3
Q

Modes

A

Scales patterns distinguished by their own unique order of tones and semitones.

Generally referred to by their greek names, dorian etc.

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4
Q

Neumes

A

Earliest form of notation in western music.

Small notations symbols indicated direction of line then used squares on staff for actual pitch

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5
Q

A cappella

A

Latin for in the chapel

Vocal without instrumental accomp.

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6
Q

Plainchant

A

Aka plainsong

Monophonic texture
Modal melodies
Unmeasured prose rhythm

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7
Q

Gregorian chant

A

A form of plainchant named after pope Gregory the great who organized chant repertory and standardized litugy

Latin texts, modal and monophonic
Evolved from hebrew chant tradition
Among earliest forms of notated music in western tradition

Moves by step or narrow leap
Unmeasured rhythym

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8
Q

Syllabic text setting

A

One note for each syllable

Text heard clearly

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9
Q

Neumatic text setting

A

2-4 notes for each syllable

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10
Q

Melismatic text setting

A

Many notes for each syllable

Most elaborate form

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11
Q

Responsorial singing

A

Solo voice alternates with chorus

Verse and respond.

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12
Q

Heterophonic texture

A

Simultaneous variation

Same melody played in more than one way at the same time

Two or more voices

Added voices often improvised.

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13
Q

Gradual

A

4th section of mass proper

Texts usually from psalms

Usually melismatic and responsorial

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14
Q

Organum

A

General term for polyphony based on plainchant
Vocal music in which new melodic lines added to an existing gregorian chant

Early styles mostly per 4,5,8 later styled more varied
Free organum involved wider variety of rhythm and intervals than original

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15
Q

Cantus formus

A

Latin for fixed song

Serves as structural skeleton for new polyphonic piece

Borrowed material, usually from greg. Chant

Originally in lowest voice

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16
Q

Tenor

A

Latin meaning to hold

In polyphonic composition it refers to voice that contains the cantus firmus

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17
Q

Counter tenor

A

High male voice

Falsetto singing

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18
Q

Motet

A

Vocal composition with or without accomp.

Secular or sacred

Usually anon.

Often polytextual

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19
Q

Polytextual motet

A

Two or more texts heard at same time

Characteristic feature of 13th century motet

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20
Q

Ostinato

A

Italian for obstinate, persistent

Rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period

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21
Q

Monophonic chanson

A

Grew from troubadour tradition

Flourished in 12th and 13th centuries

Sometimes performed with improvised accomp
Monophonic, modal, usually strophic
Texts often reflected courtly love in age of chivalry

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22
Q

Strophic

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A

Song structure where same music is performed for each verse of the poem. Little connection btwn words and music

23
Q

Trouvère

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A

French for finder

Aristocratic poet musicians

Sang of courtly love
Lived and worked in NORTH france

24
Q

Troubadour

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A

Aristocratic poet musicians that lived and worked in SOUTH france

25
Drone
Sustained pitch or lone held notes | Common feature in folk music
26
Psaltery
Medieval string instrument PLUCKED, generally played inside Trapezoidal wooden box with strings
27
Dulcimer
Medieval inst. made of wooden box and gut strings Strings STRUCK with a small hammer Played inside
28
Vielle
Ancestor of the violin Played with a bow, indoors
29
Lute
Ancestor of guitar Plucked, fretted Often used to accomp. Singers, played indoors
30
Rebec
Pear shaped, bowed string inst. played on arm or under chin Indoor inst.
31
Recorder
End blown, different lengths Finger holes Remained popular into baroque Indoors
32
Medieval pipe
Ancestor of flute | Had three holes, blown thru mouthpiece
33
Cornetto
Outdoor Ancestor of trumpet Developed from cow horn , later of wood
34
Crumhorn
Outdoor Double reed Usually j shaped
35
Sackbut
Outdoor Ancestor of trombone From french pull-push
36
Shawm
Outdoor Ancestor of oboe, double reed Middle eastern origin
37
Guitarra moresca
Guitar or moorish( north africa) | Strummed
38
Tabor
Large cylindrical drum
39
Tambourine
Wooden frame with metal disks Played by striking or shaking
40
Portative organ
Portable keyboard Sound made through pumping bellows Aka organetto
41
Positive organ
Bigger than portative but still portabel | One keyboard no pedals small pipes
42
Regal
Ancestor of harmonium | Had small keyboard and reeds instead of pipes
43
Nakers
Percussion inst. Played in pairs Like small kettle drums
44
Bas
French for low, or soft Indoor inst. dulcimer,luote,psaltery,rbec,recorder,vielle
45
Haut
French for high ,volume | Outdoor inst. cornetto,crumhorn,sackbut,shawm
46
Rondeau
Popular fixed poetic form used in polyphonic chanson Four verses with refrain
47
Musica ficta
Latin for false music Performers raised or lowered pitches by a semitone to avoid undesirable intervals Similar to accidentals
48
Estampie
One of earliest medieval dances Stately in character Elaborate body movements Danced by couples
49
Liber usualis
contains music and texts if many of chants for RC worship Latin for "Book of Common Use" prepared by monks of Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes
50
Middle ages
Time assoc with plagues,war,feudal society,black death RC church had strong influence on all aspects of life incl. music Poets began using their own language
51
Highlights of music
Moved from monophonic to complex polyphonic compositions Musical notations system developed Musical range narrow Unmeasured rhythm of plainchant gradually gave way to a more structured approach
52
Instrumental music
Vocal music often notated and performed by well educated monks. Inst. music often performed by less educated Chuch saw inst's as part of secular world Music not documented because: inst not standardized, not encouraged in church, passed down through oral tradition, too costly Was used to accomp singers, provide dance music, military campaigns
53
Liber usualis
Contains music and texts for many of r.c. Services Latin for book of common use Prepared by the monks of benedictine abbey
54
Musica enchiriadis
Contains earliest written examples of polyphony Includes paralell organum with new melodic lines below original chant Was important milestone in western music

Music History 2 (14 decks)

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