Modern Receptions of Early Polyphony

Question 1

Joubert’s ‘Analytical Encounters’ (2018)

Answer 1

looking at reviews in German periodicals
downplaying how counterpoint was emphasised in other cultures
nature and natural qualities of music in culture
quote in 1796 of Chinese people ‘know absolutely nothing of counterpoint’
German Enlightenment interest in universals
evidence downplayed
idea of counterpoint and intellectuality

Question 2

Semi’s translations of Burney’s writings

Answer 2

Single and linear civilising process indicated by musical complexity, the pinnacle of which was polyphony. Challenged by matinal music from China and rise in national airs in Scotland
geographical and historical weapon
association of polyphony and complexity of society
rise in national music led to interest in polyphony

Question 3

Riemann

Answer 3

dialectic between nature (folk practices) and singing in thirds and sixths in Wales

Question 4

Burstyn - Gerald of Wales

Answer 4

accounts of vernacular polyphony written by Gerald
crusade to Wales
flowery language and stories mean some people disregard it - but we shouldn’t take away nothing
florilegia medieval practice of drawing quotes from large collections

Question 5

Popper (1976) - philosophy

Answer 5

convinced organum arose by mistake without treatises
falsifiability as foundation of knowledge

Question 6

Cohen - metaphysics, ideology, discipline (1993)

Answer 6

Pythagorean platonic concept of unity
seen in De Musica
in music what is unified is good
music stemming from God
Carolingians taking unity as moral good - using this to standardise chant

Question 7

complaints against singers of polyphony

Answer 7

Aelred of Rievaulx (d. 1167) - Abott in Yorkshire complaining about musicians not observing religion and the ‘snorting and bellows’ of organs
John of Salisbury (d.1180) - thinks music has taken psalms too far, doesn’t like men singing in feminine way, music as too powerful

Question 8

music for a king - the Winchester Troper (2014)

Answer 8

album
Discantus - all female group
after something that is lost
centered around coronation of Edward the Confessor on Easter Day 1043
search for lost European identity
performing identity

Question 9

Weber the evolution of occidental polyvocality (1958)

Answer 9

understanding subjective meanings and multidimensional nature of social phenomena
western world as rational - music and rationality
enchantment - beginning with enchanted world of middle ages and rationalisation leading to disenchantment
polyvocality as western
notation as neither theory nor practice

Question 10

Fuller (2011) quote

Answer 10

‘Polyphony as an extempore (and characteristically ephemeral) means of sonic elaboration practised in ecclesiastical spheres and of the persistence of the earliest protocols for generating organum alongside more complex procedures’.