Chapter 5 - Polyphony Through the 13th Century Flashcards
Polyphony first existed mainly as a ________ _________ and __________ ___________
Polyphony was first an ornamental performance practice and an oral tradition
The rise of polyphony helped shape Western music into what it is today. Name 4 ways it did this
- Centralized notation
- Influenced development of counterpoint
- Influenced development of harmony
- Helped the separation of the concepts of performance and composition
What is organum?
The combination of two or more voices singing different notes in acceptable combinations according to certain rules
What it parallel organum?
Organum where the voices move in strict parallel motion
Describe Mixed Parallel and Oblique Organum
This is organum where the voices move in parallel, however the oblique motion is used sometimes to avoid unwanted dissonances.
The principal voice _________
Contains the original chant
The organal voice _________
Is the additional line to the original chant or the principal voice
A new style of organum emerged in the late 11th century. Name and describe it
Note against note organum moves the organal voice above the principal usually, and has a freer and more important organal voice
Aquitanian polyphony was a new style that emerged in France in the 12th century. Give two characteristics of this style
- More ornate than earlier styles of polyphony
- Repetory consisted largely of settings of Verses, the genre of Latin sacred monophonic songs
What is the tenor voice?
In polyphony, this is the lower, principal voice of the piece
Describe Discant Polyphony
This is a style of polyphony where the organal voice contains one to three notes for every note of the tenor voice and both voices move at the same rate
Describe Florid Organum
This is a style of polyphony where there are multiple notes in the organal voice for every note of the tenor. The tenor voice moves much slower
The Duplum is what?
The Duplum is the upper voice above the tenor
Define Clausula
Coming from the word “clause” as in a sentence, these are settings of organum on single words that were self contained musical phrases that ended on a cadence
How were substitute clausula used?
These were used to substitute into an existing setting a segment of the chant. They are replacement sections for organum. Most are in discant style
Define Caudae
These are long melissmatic passages that occur at the beginning, end, and at cadences in polyphonic conductus
Define Motet
This is a polyphonic composition that sets new words to the duplum voice of an existing clausula. Eventually secular text and topics were added and it became it’s own genre.
Define Cantus Firmus
An existing melody, often taken from Gregorian chant on which a new polyphonic work is based (will be the tenor voice). This term appeared starting in the late 13th century
Around what time was Franconian Notation developed and codified?
The late 13th century
Who codified Franconian notation and in what book?
Franco of Cologne in his Ars Cantus Mensurabilis of ca. 1280
Why is Franconian notation significant?
It uses the shapes of notes to designate rhythm, a predecessor to the system we use today
In Franconian notation the basic time unit is called the _______
The basic time unit is the tempus; three tempura make up a Perfection
In Franconian notation what is a Perfection?
A group of three tempura, the basic time units. A perfection is sort of like a measure of 3/ x
When did the Normans conquer England?
1066
What is a distinctive feature of English polyphony through the 13th century?
The use of imperfect consonances; 3rds and 6ths, often in parallel
