Dark Age / Renaissance - Definitions

Question 1

Mundus senescit

Answer 1

The world is growing old

Question 2

Benedicamus domino

Answer 2

Let us bless the lord

Question 3

Crusades

Answer 3

A series of religiously sanctioned military campaigns, originally defensive in nature

Question 4

Plainchant/plainsong

Answer 4

A body of chants used in the liturgies of the Catholic Church. It is monophonic. It generally has a more free rhythm than the metered rhythm of later western music.

Question 5

Gregorian chant

Answer 5

It is the central tradition of western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within western Christianity than accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual Church services.

Question 6

Monophonic

Answer 6

Music consisting of a single, unaccompanied melodic line

Question 7

Polyphonic

Answer 7

When two or more musical lines are performed simultaneously.

Question 8

Organum

Answer 8

A form of the polyphonic music which consisted of two melodic lines moving simultaneously note against note. Sometimes a second voice doubled the chant, or principal voice, a fourth or fifth below and moved in parallel motion.

Question 9

Monk

Answer 9

A person who practices religious goals, living either alone or with any number of people practicing the same purpose or concept.

Question 10

Requiem Mass

Answer 10

Alone known as “Mass for the Dead”. They are composed to honour the deceased.

Question 11

Monasteries

Answer 11

A building or group of buildings that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the living and workplaces for the monks.

Question 12

Sacred music

Answer 12

Music of the church (religious music)

Question 13

Secular music

Answer 13

Non-religious music

Question 14

Troubadours

Answer 14

French singer-songwriters who wrote lyrics and melodies (secular music) which were performed in courtly surroundings, and were sometimes accompanied by instruments.

Question 15

Hurdy-furry

Answer 15

Also known as a wheel fiddle, is a stringed instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow.

Question 16

Motet

Answer 16

A vocal composition, either sacred or secular, which may or may not have had instrument accompaniment.

Question 17

Neumes

Answer 17

Early musical notation signs; square notes on a four-line staff

Question 18

Viler

Answer 18

Bowed-stringed instrument; ancestor of the violin.

Question 19

Rebec

Answer 19

Bowed-stringed instrument, often with a pear-shaped body, three strings and is played on the arm.

Question 20

Lute

Answer 20

Plucked-string instrument, of Middle Eastern origin.

Question 21

Recorder

Answer 21

End-blown woodwind instrument with a whistle mouth-piece.

Question 22

Shawm

Answer 22

Medieval wind instrument that was the ancestor of the oboe.

Question 23

Gothic architecture

Answer 23

A style of architecture that flourished during the medieval period, which often featured the pointed arch and the ribbed vault.

Question 24

Dark Ages

Answer 24

The term characterized the bulk of the Middle Ages (Medieval Period) — a period of intellectual, cultural and economic darkness between the extinguishing of the light of Rome and the Renaissance or ‘rebirth’.

Question 25

Protestant Reformation

Answer 25

The European Protestant Reformation that establishes Protestantism. It was led by Martin Luther.

Question 26

Parchment

Answer 26

A thin material made from calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin, often split. Its most common use was a material for writing on.

Question 27

Golden Mean

Answer 27

An irrational mathematical constant, approximately 1.1680339887 it is often found in nature in the shape of a leaf or the spiral of a shell. It is often thought to add harmonious composition to buildings and other structures.

Question 28

Antiphonal singing

Answer 28

Performance style in which an ensemble is divided two or more groups, performing in alternation and then together. (Often on opposite sides)

Question 29

Chiaroscuro

Answer 29

The use of light and shadow in Renaissance art to make figures appear full and real.

Question 30

Manuscript

Answer 30

Music paper; consisting of the 5-line staff.

Question 31

A cappella

Answer 31

Chiral music performed without instrumental accompaniment.

Question 32

Liturgy

Answer 32

The customary public worship

Question 33

Madrigals

Answer 33

Renaissance secular work originating in Italy for voices, with or without instruments, set to a short, lyric love poem.

Question 34

Refrain

Answer 34

Text or music that is repeated within a larger form.

Question 35

Tone-painting

Answer 35

The musical technique of writing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song. (Example: dark music in a minor key would accompany lyrics about death)

Question 36

Sacbut

Answer 36

Early brass instrument, ancestor of the trombone

Question 37

Gamba

Answer 37

Ancestor of the cello; often played between the legs; 6-strings with frets

Question 38

Organetto

Answer 38

Portable pipe instrument performed by a bag pushing air through the pipes while pressing down keys. (Looks like a mini organ)

Question 39

Dulcimer

Answer 39

Stringed instrument performed by striking wooden sticks against the strings.

Question 40

Kortholt

Answer 40

Woodwind instrument. The instrument has two narrow cylindrical bores side by side with a reed in the mouthpiece. When blown, it produces a soft-low buzz sound.

Question 41

Tabor

Answer 41

A portable snare drum played with one hand (always with ‘pipe’)