Chapter 2 - The Christian Church in the First Millennium

Question 1

What was the Edict of Milan? When was it issued and by who?

Answer 1

The Edict of Milan was a proclamation that legalized Christianity in the Roman empire, in 313 AD by Constantine I

Question 2

Which Roman emperor made Christianity the state religion of Rome and when?

Answer 2

Emperor Theodocius I in 392

Question 3

Define Psalm

Answer 3

Poems of praise from the Hebrew book of psalms

Question 4

What is Cantillation?

Answer 4

The chanting of sacred texts by a solo singer

Question 5

As the Christian community grew in the late 4th century, worshipers began to construct and gather in large rectangular buildings called _______.

Answer 5

Basilicas

Question 6

In early Christian services, how were prayers and texts recited?

Answer 6

They were recited via chant, which aided in filling the large hall of the Basilica

Question 7

What was the early church’s view on music?

Answer 7

Music was the servant of religion. It was encouraged for its ability to praise God and instill devout thoughts in the listener, however performing and listening for pleasure was frowned upon.
They believed beautiful things, including music, existed to remind us of divine beauty.

Question 8

Why did the early church disapprove of instrumental music?

Answer 8

This was because they believed music without words could not open the mind to holy thoughts and teachings

Question 9

For over a thousand years, the Christian musical tradition existed almost entirely of _________ _________

Answer 9

Unaccompanied singing

Question 10

When was the Roman empire split in two?

Answer 10

395 AD

Question 11

When did the Western Roman empire collapse?

Answer 11

476 AD

Question 12

What significant event happened in 1054 and why?

Answer 12

The Christian church split into two sects, the Roman Catholics in the west, and the Byzantine Church in the east due to differences in theology, language, and governance.

Question 13

As the Christian church grew and diversified, each region developed its own rite or customs and procedures. What does the rite consist of?

Answer 13

It consists of a church calendar, liturgy, and repertory of chant

Question 14

What is meant by liturgy?

Answer 14

This is the collection of sacred texts and rituals that the church uses in it’s rites.

Question 15

Each regional flavor of the church used it’s own particular repertory of chant. What are these regional variations on the repertoire called?

Answer 15

Chant Dialects

Question 16

What is chant?

Answer 16

Unison song with melodies for the prescribed texts

Question 17

Ambrosian chant belongs to which rite?

Answer 17

The Milanese rite

Question 18

Describe how the Roman catholic church used chant for political gains

Answer 18

The Roman Catholic church exported its liturgy and chant to Frankish kingdoms in the north that it had made alliances with. With the help of these northern kings, the Roman rites were adopted and the hodgepodge of regional chants and liturgy were assimilated thus consolidating the western church and Roman power.

Question 19

Which pope initiated the standardization of western chant repertories and liturgy and when?

Answer 19

Pope Stephen II from the middle 8th to the beginning of the 9th centuries

Question 20

Who is Gregorian chant named after?

Answer 20

Pope Gregory I, despite the repertory being codified more than 150 years later under pope Stephen II

Question 21

What are neumes?

Answer 21

These are an early form of notation that indicate things such as repetition of notes, the melodic gesture, ascending or descending lines, etc, but not exact rhythm or notes.

Question 22

Who suggested an early form of the staff for use with heightened neumes?

Answer 22

The monk Guido of Arezzo (ca. 991-1033)

Question 23

How are heightened neumes an improvement over the older form and when did they start to be used?

Answer 23

Heightened neumes indicate relative size and direction of intervals, and they began to be used in the 10th and 11th centuries

Question 24

Who was the most important writer on music during middle ages and when did he live? What was he influenced by?

Answer 24

The Italian, Boethius (ca. 480-ca. 524). His views and writings were heavily influenced and often directly quoted Greek thoughts on music.

Question 25

When referring to modes, what is the final?

Answer 25

The final is the main note in the mode, and usually the last note in the melody.

Question 26

What is an authentic mode?

Answer 26

A mode in which the range spans a whole step below the final to an octave above it

Question 27

What is a plagal mode?

Answer 27

A mode in which the range spans a fourth or 5th below the final to a 5th or 6th above it

Question 28

Authentic and plagel modes share what in common?

Answer 28

The final

Question 29

What is the reciting tone?

Answer 29

The note that is most prominent or frequent in a piece in one of the church modes

Question 30

Who invented solfege and why?

Answer 30

Guido of Arezzo; to aid in sight-singing

Question 31

In music we consider the medieval period to be when?

Answer 31

From 800-1400