Artistic Movements

Question 1

discant

Answer 1

A style of polyphony created during the Gothic era by Leoninus.

When both voices move at roughly the same rate and have clearly defined rhythms.

Question 2

modal notation

Answer 2

1150-1280

A system designed by Leoninus and colleagues at Notre Dame that consisted of rhythmic modes with ligatures. These designated specific rhythms that a performer was to sing.

Question 3

Notre Dame School

Answer 3

The time period 1160-1260 when Leoninus, Perotinus, and their colleagues created a huge musical repertory. This style became immensely influential to later musical movements.

Question 4

Ars nova

Answer 4

Music from the first half of the 14th century.

Characterized by four innovations:

1. Theorists acknowledge the minim (subdivision of the semibreve)
2. Musicians divided into duple and triple units.
3. Triplets and hemiola were used in duple meters
4. Time signatures appear for the first time.

Question 5

Ars antiqua

Answer 5

Term referring to music from the 13th century with simple rhythmic patterns, all in triple meter.

Question 6

Ars subtilior

Answer 6

Late 14th century music from Avignon into southern parts of France and northern Italy. Marked by the most subtle, sometimes extreme, rhythmic relationships.

Question 7

cantus firmus technique

Answer 7

When borrowed melodic material is placed in the tenor.

Question 8

paraphrase technique

Answer 8

When a composer uses a pre-existing plainsong and embellishes it and giving it a rhythmic profile. The elaborated chant then serves as the basic melodic material for a polyphonic composition.

Ornamented material can appear in any voice, though is most often heard in the cantus.

Question 9

onomatopoetic music

Answer 9

Directly tying music to text/using music that sounds out the meaning of text.

One of the most important developments in music. How we “hear music” and the mood it portrays are influenced by this technique.

Question 10

parody technique

Answer 10

Also called emulation technique.

When a composer borrows not only a pre-existing melody, but also the polyphonic complex. This is then elaborated on.

Question 11

prima pratica

Answer 11

A traditional style for church music; the musical embodiment of the restrained spirit of the Counter-Reformation

Question 12

seconda pratica

Answer 12

Monteverdi’s term for the new text-driven approach to musical composition that he practiced. Allowed for deviations from conventional counterpoint.

Paved way for new Baroque music.

Question 13

Baroque music

Answer 13

1600-1750

Indicated a rough, bold sound in music with excessive ornamentation.

Question 14

stile antico/stile moderno

Answer 14

Antico: Old or traditional style (prima pratica)

Modern style: seconda pratica