Introduction to the Middle Ages Flashcards
When were the Middle Ages?
476-1450, or the fall of the Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople (Middle Ages)
How was music transmitted in the Middle Ages?
Orally (Middle Ages)
Where and by who was most music in the Middle Ages performed?
People of the church, and in the church and at home (Middle Ages)
How was Middle Ages music written?
With neumes (early notes) and a 4 line staff (Middle Ages)
How was music in the Middle Ages limited by their singers?
The monks and priests were not professional singers and could not sing large leaps or too high or low (Middle Ages)
What were the instruments used in the Church?
Organ+voice (Middle Ages)
What were “formes fixes”
A poetic form of text that involved a series of repetitions and a refrain, similar to a chorus (Middle Ages)
What were the most common forms of “formes fixes”?
rondeau, virelai, ballade (Middle Ages)
What was the music of the Middle Ages loosely based on?
Modes (Middle Ages)
What does a cappella mean?
without musical instruments (Middle Ages)
What are the 2 main textures of Middle Age music?
Monophonic + Polyphonic (Middle Ages)
What is monophonic texture?
A style of music having only one line of melody and no accompaniment (Middle Ages)
What is polyphonic texture?
A style of music having more than one line of melody (Middle Ages)
What is a plainchant?
A chant characterized by a monophonic texture, modal melodies, a narrow melodic range and no set meter (unmeasured prose rhythm)
(Middle Ages)
What is a treatise?
An instructional book (Middle Ages)
