Song Unit Flashcards
to learn stuff (32 cards)
Economy in the middle ages. What was it based on and where did most people live?
Agriculture and most people lived in rural areas.
What is the date of the troubadour movement?
1150-1200
Troubadours… Who? Where? and Language
Provencal speaking poets and musicians from southern France
Where would you meet a troubadour?
in castles
How did Bernart de Ventadorn life represent the life of most troubadours? Include : background, personal experience and traveling experience?
Bernard’s life was similar to those of other troubadours. Humble origin but raised his social status through his talents, fell in love with a lady of the court who inspired him, went from castle to castle and died in a monastery
Where were the troubadours songs preserved?
Their songs preserved in chasonniers
Explain courtly love
Refined love or love from a distance. Usually involved two lovers of different social classes
Describe the characteristics of a troubadour’s song : Texture, melody, and rhythm
Texture : monophonic, only one melody
Melody : stepwise , motion, few skips, combination of syllabic and neumatic
Who were jongleurs?
Traveling entertainers who told stories and performed tricks in addition to performing music.
Who financed the production of troubadour songs?
The king of France
When were French chansons composed and where were most composers of this genre from?
French chansons were composed from 1300-1600 and most of the composers lived in France
How many voices did Guillaume de Machaut use in his chansons and how many voices are texted?
3 voices with one texted
What is the texture of Guillaume’s songs?
3 voices, all very different
Who wrote the text for Guillaume’s songs?
He did because he was an excellent poet and master of language.
What are the dates of the renaissance?
1450-1600
What is the meaning of the term renaissance?
coined by historians, the term renaissance means “rebirth”
How are musicians affected when the economy improves during the renaissance?
They were able to make more money playing music and as a result had more opportunities to perform for pay.
What were choir schools and why was the church in need of training choir boys?
Schools in cathedrals that taught choir boys singing, counterpoint, Latin and grammar. The church needed choir boys to sing high pitch vocal parts that women were forbidden to sing and to continue the tradition of choir music.
How were instrumentalists trained?
Instrumentalists were trained by their families at home.
Who employs instrumentalists during the renaissance?
Courts and churches
Nobility
Where did musicians working in Italy come from and why were they in Italy?
Musicians from all over Europe migrated over Europe to be in a country where they could make a lot of money and get work easily.
3 new compositional methods and or textures found in the renaissance?
- voice equality
- all voices are written simultaneously
- imitation alternating e/ homophony (Chords)
How many voices did Josquin des Prez use in his Chansons and how many are texted?
4 voices
All texted
What is the texture of Josquin’s songs?
less independence in voices
imitation alternating with homophony
