Medieval/Renaissance Period Flashcards
What is plainchant also known as?
Gregorian chant
What is plainchant?
Pure melody with no supporting harmony and no regular beat. It is based on a system of 8 modes and has religious words. It is monophonic and sometimes accompanied by a drone
What are church modes?
The eight modes of the plainchant.
When did the medieval period occur?
450-1450 (1000 years)
History in the medieval period?
- barbarians overthrew the Roman Empire
- Christian culture emerged in Western Europe
- churches and monasteries were the main centres for learning
- music was centred on cathedrals
- priests and monks were important musicians
Music in the medieval period?
- many types of instruments
- organ used for church music, others for signing and dancing
- music played from memory or improvised
- accompaniment was drones or untuned percussion
What were some instruments in the medieval period?
Shawm, natural trumpet, bagpipes, pipe and tabor, harp, rebec, nakers and tambourines
What is strophic?
Has the same melody for each verse
When was the Renaissance period
1450-1600
History in the Renaissance period
- Kings and nobility set up own bands
- music was for worship, entertainment and ceremonies
- Renaissance instruments often used in families called consorts
- shift from church to man
- means “rebirth”
- new ideas
- non-religious songs performed
What is a consort?
Different sized instruments ranging in pitch
What is a broken consort?
A mixed group of instruments
What are some instruments from the Renaissance period?
Viols, recorders, crumhorns, cornetts, shawms, sackbuts and trumpets
What is a cadence?
Chords at the end of a phrase or piece to finish and make sound final
What is a perfect cadence?
Sounds most final, chord 5 to 1
