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Middle Ages 400-1400. Society. 3 classes of people First class consisted of nobility: rich landowners, knights in shining armour Second class consisted of clergy, priests & monks Third class consisted of most of the people of this time period: poor farmers known as peasants
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Society • 3 classes of people • First class consisted of nobility: rich landowners, knights in shining armour • Second class consisted of clergy, priests & monks • Third class consisted of most of the people of this time period: poor farmers known as peasants • Peasants lived an average age of 30
Two types of Music • Sacred Music • Secular Music
Sacred Music • Church was the centre of people lives • Sacred music was called plainsong • Language sung was Latin • Words came from Roman Catholic Mass • Monks wrote the music • http://youtu.be/2HEKhr002Ts
Sacred Music • Music had 4 staves • Notes were square called neumes • Most well known plain song is Gregorian chant……in honour of Pope Gregory the first
Secular Music • People travelled from castle to castle singing songs called Minstrels • Songs were about love, life and chivalry • Faster than sacred songs, simple text and one melody • Not typically Latin but the common language was used
Minstrels • Minstrels would tell jokes, sing songs and perform tricks • Quite often play stringed or percussion instruments • Formed guilds and worked at becoming respected members of the middle class
Composers • Guido D’Arezzo (Italian) is believed to have lived from 991/992-1033 • He was the inventor of modern musical notation (staff notation) • Created/invented the Guidonian hand: musical notes were mapped to the parts of the hand • Other composers of this time period were: Guillaume de Machaut (French), John Dunstable (English), Leonin (French)
End of an Era • Over 1000 years, life became better, more civilized • People started to focus on themselves • Until now music had been homophony – music with only one melody at a time • Music was starting to be called polyphony – music with 2 or more melodies happening at the same time.
Medieval Music Characteristics in today’s Music • Often accompanied by stringed or percussion instruments • Songs were about love and life • Secular music was faster than Sacred music, usually only having one melody.