MUSI 1307 - Test #1 Flashcards
Listening: hurdy-gurdy w/drum, Dorian
Beatriz de Dia: A chanter
—Troubaritz, female troubadour, a poem about a scorned lover, secular
Listening: rounds
Sumer is icumin in
—Earliest example of English Round or Rota; polyphonic; 13th Century
Listening: chant mono w/drone, Locrian
Hildegard von Bingen-chant
—Monophonic, melismatic, sacred but non-liturgical
Listening: digeridoo
Song of Roland
—Long, narrative epic or poem about going to battle with Charlemagne, strophic, secular
Listening: one instrument, re-te of Mixolydian
Epitaph of Seikilos - 1st century Greek song
—One of the oldest Greek compositions, found on the side of a road, in memoriam of the composer’s wife
All of the following types of evidence about musical culture from ancient civilizations survive
today EXCEPT
a. musical instruments. d. visual images of music-making.
b. notated music. e. writings about music.
c. recorded sound.
c. recorded sound.
________ is a type of music found in ancient Mesopotamia, but no longer used in Western
cultures today.
a. Dance music d. Music to accompany epic poetry
b. The funeral lament e. The nursery song
c. Military music
d. Music to accompany epic poetry
Scholars think that memory and improvisation played an important role in Greek
music-making because
a. ancient Greek writings explain techniques for playing by ear.
b. ancient Greek writings praise musicians for their excellent memories.
c. images of music-making from ancient Greece rarely show performers reading music.
d. no musical notation from ancient Greece survives.
e. the musical notation from ancient Greece provides chord progressions on which to improvise.
c. images of music-making from ancient Greece rarely show performers reading music.
In this image a woman is playing the
a. aulos. d. lyre.
b. bone flute. e. panpipes.
c. kithara
a. aulos
Plato asserted that music was an essential component of education because
a. music and poetry are inseparable.
b. music is enjoyable to listen to.
c. musicians were valued in society.
d. studying music helps to balance mental and physical activity.
e. studying music helps to understand mathematics.
d. studying music helps to balance mental and physical activity.
The names Cleonides used for octave species (Dorian, Phrygian, and Lydian) were
derived from
a. ethnic names originally associated with styles of music practiced in different regions
of Greece.
b. the Greek names of the pitches on which each scale began.
c. the Greek names of the planets.
d. the Greek words for the emotional states evoked by each scale.
e. revered Greek theorists, writers, and philosophers.
a. ethnic names originally associated with styles of music practiced in different regions
The Epitaph of Seikilos is a musical composition from
a. ancient Babylon. d. ancient Rome.
b. the Bronze Age. e. the Stone Age.
c. ancient Greece.
c. ancient Greece.
According to Aristotle, different kinds of melodies could cause the listener to experience
a. emotions. d. physical health.
b. hallucinations. e. religious epiphanies.
c. philosophical thoughts.
a. emotions.
All of the following wrote about Greek music EXCEPT
a. Aristides Quintilianus. d. Plato.
b. Aristotle. e. Pythagoras.
c. Orpheus.
c. Orpheus.
________ discovered the relationship between consonant intervals and mathematical ratios.
a. Aristotle d. Ptolmey
b. Aristoxenus e. Pythagoras
c. Plato
e. Pythagoras
The earliest surviving musical instruments were made from
a. bone. d. stone.
b. clay. e. wood.
c. metal.
a. bone.
Define perfect melos.
In ancient Greece, music as a performing art was known as melos. Perfect melos was melody, text, and stylized dance as a combined whole.
Define harmonia
The concept in Greek philosophy that the universe is an orderly, unified system integrating
everything from mathematical proportions, astronomy, philosophy, and social structures to a
person’s soul is called ________.
The ancient Greek notion that unheard music was produced by the revolutions of the planets
is known as ________.
the music of the spheres
Discuss how theories and practices of music-making in ancient Greece are similar to those
still in use today.
Much vocal melody is shaped by the rhythm and meter of word, if not as strictly as in Greek music; many styles genres still depend on memory and conventions, even as notation has developed; the idea that music is an orderly system that influences behavior, and thus changes in musical conventions threaten anarchy in society
What did the ancient Greeks believe about music’s relation to the behavior of the individual,
the functioning of a well-ordered society, and the motions of the planets?
music elicits emotions in humans and also affects ethical character; Harmonia: idea that studies such as math, philosophy, etc, unified with the human soul, and this was order in the universe - this connected music to astronomy, that movement of planets corresponded to notes, intervals, and scales
Popes and secular rulers from the eighth century on sought to standardize the Catholic
liturgy in order to
a. centralize political and spiritual authority.
b. create a sense of unity among congregants.
c. identify and persecute non-believers.
d. reunite the Eastern and Western Empires.
e. revive the ideas of the church fathers.
a. centralize political and spiritual authority.
The Holy Roman Empire was established when
a. Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
b. Frankish king Pippin the Short brought the Roman liturgy and chant to his domain.
c. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks, emperor.
d. the Roman Empire fell.
e. the Roman Empire was partitioned into the Eastern and Western Empires.
c. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks, emperor.
The similarities and differences from phrase to phrase of this melody provide evidence that
a. chant melodies may have been composed using a pool of melodic contours and formulas.
b. early notation was only an approximate way of preserving chant melodies.
c. oral transmission was unreliable.
d. the melody resulted from a blend of various chant dialects.
e. the Schola Cantorum purposely taught the Franks incorrect melodies.
a. chant melodies may have been composed using a pool of melodic contours and formulas
Why did church musicians develop a system for notating chant?
a. It helped advance the goal of disseminating a unified liturgy.
b. The vast repertory was too difficult to learn by rote memorization.
c. They wanted congregants to be able to join in the singing.
d. They wanted it to be a secret repertory, available only to the literate.
e. They wanted to preserve the music for posterity.
a. It helped advance the goal of disseminating a unified liturgy.
The idea of staff lines and clefs was suggested by
a. Boethius. d. St. Gregory.
b. Guido of Arezzo. e. the Monks of Solesmes.
c. Martianus Capella.
b. Guido of Arezzo
The early church leaders discouraged the use of music for pleasure. T/F
T
The system of classifying Gregorian chants into eight church modes had its origins in Byzantine chant. T/F
T
This painting illustrates what legend?
It illustrates the legend that the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove to St. Gregory and
dictated the repertory of Catholic chant to him.
Chant notation from the Middle Ages gives consistent indications of rhythmic values. T/F
F
Guido of Arezzo suggested an arrangement of lines and spaces in notation, using a link of red ink for F and of yellow ink for C. T/F
T
Today we think of music as an applied, practical, or performing art. Why did theorists in the Middle Ages consider it a
liberal art, along with such disciplines as dialectic (logic) and arithmetic?
Theorists in the Middle Ages thought more about the mathematical and philosophical aspects of music. They
thought about how ratios and proportions create consonances, dissonances, and tuning. They also thought about how
music can affect the body and soul, and how it would prepare the student for more advanced philosophical studies.
Music was an object of knowledge and inquiry.
This music theorist divided music into three categories: musica mundana (music of the universe), musica humana (human
music), and musica instrumentalis (instrumental music).
Boethius
Identify this image. How was it used?
This is the Guidonian Hand. It was used to teach music students how to find pitches of a melody on the system of
hexachords. It shows the solmization syllables for each note.
In what ways is the history of Western music indebted to and intertwined with Christianity?
The adoption by the church of Byzantinian church modes shows the desire to systematize the rep - this led to notation and solmisation
Discuss the role of memory and notation in the learning and performance of chant in the Middle Ages.
Originially oral transmission alone, words written down, existing melodies (must have been memorized and passed down) borrowed from pre-existing rep; Neumes, which notated melodic gestures, not specific pitches, had to be learned by ear and memorized in order to perform; from that Guido de Arezzo developed a four line sytem which allowed precise notation of pitches and intervals - this freed music from oral or aural transmission and memoriztion - a musician could learn a melody without having ever heard it before.
In the Medieval Christian church, the primary purpose of liturgical music was to
a. aid in the delivery of the text.
b. demonstrate the priests’ musical virtuosity.
c. enable congregants to participate in the service.
d. entertain the congregants who did not understand Latin.
e. imitate angels.
a. aid in the delivery of the text.
The cycle of feasts celebrating events in the life of Christ and commemorating saints is called the
a. Christian Rite. d. Office.
b. church calendar. e. Proper.
c. Mass.
b. church calendar.
The Mass is a symbolic reenactment of which episode in the life of Christ?
a. the Baptism d. the Nativity
b. the Crucifixion e. the Resurrection
c. the Last Supper
c. the Last Supper
The cycle of prayers said throughout the day in monasteries and convents is called the
a. Antiphoner. d. Office.
b. Breviary. e. Rule of St. Benedict.
c. Canticle.
d. Office.
The liturgy of the Office focused primarily on chanting the
a. Epistles. d. Pentateuch.
b. Gospels. e. psalms.
c. Liber usualis.
e. psalms.
The manner of performance in which a soloist alternates
singing with a choir is called
a. antiphonal. d. responsorial.
b. declamatory. e. syllabic.
c. melismatic.
d. responsorial.
The style of this chant is best described as
a. melismatic. d. strophic.
b. neumatic. e. syllabic.
c. soloistic.
e. syllabic
The composer of Ordo virtutum is
a. Adam of St. Victor. d. St. Benedict.
b. Hildegard of Bingen. e. Wipo of Burgundy.
c. Notker Balbulus.
b. Hildegard of Bingen.
Why was Hildegard of Bingen’s music known only locally during her lifetime?
a. Most composers in the Middle Ages had only a local reputation.
b. Most people rejected her unusual musical style.
c. People did not believe her visions and prophecies.
d. She was a radical.
e. Women were not allowed to compose.
a. Most composers in the Middle Ages had only a local reputation.
Hildegard of Bingen did all of the following EXCEPT
a. advise emperors, kings, and popes. d. travel around Germany to preach.
b. compose music. e. write poetry.
c. officiate at Mass.
c. officiate at Mass.
The texts for the Mass are the same every week of the year. T/F
F
The musical phrases of a given chant tend to match the phrasing and pronunciation of spoken Latin.T/F
T
Explain the difference between the Proper and Ordinary texts of the Mass.
Proper texts differ for each day of the church calendar and are specific to the feast being celebrated. For example,
the Gradual for Christmas Day would be different from the Gradual for Easter. The Gradual for Christmas talks
about the miracle of Christ’s birth. The Gradual for Easter may talk
about Christ’s sacrifice. Ordinary texts are the same from week to week. For example, the Gloria text
is always the same.
What is a monastery?
A monastery is a community of religious men (monks) who devote their lives to prayer.
Communities of religious women (nuns) are called convents.
Explain the difference between antiphonal and responsorial performance.
In antiphonal performance two soloists or two groups sing in alternation. In responsorial
performance a soloist alternates with a group (choir or congregation).
An epic narrative poem describing the deeds of a heroic character is called a
a. carole..
b. chanson de geste.
c. goliard song.
d. pastourelle
e. rondeau
b. chanson de geste.
The theme of fin’amors in trouvère songs concerns the topic of
a. the adoration of Mary.
b. couples who cheat on each other.
c. love of fine food and wine.
d. respectful love toward an unattainable noble woman.
e. love between peasants.
d. respectful love toward an unattainable noble woman.
Pastoral songs take place in what kind of setting?
a. a church or monastery
b. a city street
c. a court castle
d. a rural setting
e. a tavern
d. a rural setting
From ca. 800 to ca. 1200, Europe experienced
a. aggregation of wealth among the nobility.
b. economic, educational, and artistic growth.
c. invasions by the Arabs.
d. population decline due to disease and famine.
e. territorial expansion.
b. economic, educational, and artistic growth.
Why do scholars believe that the surviving secular song and dance repertory represents
mostly that of the upper classes of society?
a. Music of the lower social classes was formulaic.
b. Music of the lower social classes was mostly improvised.
c. Only the music of the upper class was considered worthy of preserving.
d. People in the lower social classes were not allowed to make music.
e. The lower social classes were nonliterate and so they could not write down their music.
e. The lower social classes were nonliterate and so they could not write down their music.
Because the same troubadour or trouvère song may appear in several manuscripts with slight
variations in the text and music, scholars believe that
a. later musicians adapted the old songs to appeal to more modern tastes.
b. the scribes were unfamiliar with the music.
c. the songs were transmitted orally and later written down.
d. the troubadours and trouvères could not read or write music.
e. the troubadours and trouvères were not concerned about creating a single authoritative version
of the song.
c. the songs were transmitted orally and later written down.
Troubadours are men and trouvères are women. T/F
F
The original notation of medieval secular song clearly indicates the rhythmic duration of
pitches.T/F
F
Instrumental dance tunes were likely performed with improvised accompaniments. T/F
T
Secular music could have a Latin text. T/F
T
Vernacular songs could be about religious (sacred) subjects T/F
T
What is meant by a text that is in a “vernacular”?
It means a text that is in the local language, not Latin. Spanish, German, Old French, and
langue d’oc are all examples of vernacular languages.
What was a guild? What was its purpose?
Guilds were organizations of professional artisans, craftspeople, or tradespeople. They
served to protect the quality of the art or workmanship. They created rules for employment and
competition and created a system of apprenticeships to train the younger generation. They were
similar to today’s labor unions.
What is a chansonnier?
A chansonnier is an anthology of songs.
Name 3 Medieval Instruments.
Hurdy-gurdy, portative organ, psaltery, harp
What is the primary innovation in notation described by Franco of Cologne in his treatise Ars cantus mensurabilis?
The shape of the note indicates its relative duration or rhythmic value. This is in contrast to modal notation, in which rhythmic values were determined according to the patterns of two- and three-note ligatures.
Why were thirteenth-century motets most likely intended for elite audiences?
The interplay of texts and combination of borrowed and new elements required an educated audience already familiar with the repertory to appreciate the subtleties.
A type of organum described in Musica enchiriadis that includes intervals of seconds and
thirds in order to avoid tritones is called ________.
mixed parallel and oblique organum
Tritones were considered acceptable in organum. T/F
F
Parallel fifths were considered acceptable in organum. T/F
T
The term cantus firmus, introduced around 1270, is synonymous with which of the following terms?
a. duplum d. triplum
b. motetus e. vox organalis
c. tenor
c. tenor
Voice exchange is when
a. some voices sing while others rest. d. voices sing in the same rhythmic mode.
b. voices sing in florid style. e. voices trade phrases.
c. voices sing in note-against-note style.
e. voices trade phrases.
Scholars think that the organum of Leoninus and Perotinus was first composed orally and was later written down. All of the following observations provide evidence for this EXCEPT
a. the Anonymous IV treatise describes melodic formulas and calls them colores.
b. discant was easy to remember because of its short phrases and the use of rhythmic modes.
c. the organal voices contain recurring melodic formulas that were easy to remember.
d. the compositions in the manuscripts known as the Magnus Liber Organi are all anonymous.
e. there was a long-standing practice of composing orally and memorizing large amounts of music.
d. the compositions in the manuscripts known as the Magnus Liber Organi are all anonymous.
The rhythmic modes were developed by composers working at the
a. Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
b. Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella in Spain.
c. monastery in Cologne, Germany.
d. monastery of Winchester, England.
e. Papal Chapel in Rome.
a. Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris
In organum, the voice presenting the chant is called the
a. bass voice. d. original voice.
b. drone. e. principal voice.
c. organal voice.
e. principal voice
Aquitanian polyphony originated in
a. , England. , d. , Italy.
b. , France. , e. , Spain.
c. , Germany. , ,
b. , France
The treatises Musica enchiriadis and Scholica enchiriadis use the term organum to describe
a. an improvised melody sung against a drone.
b. monophony.
c. a musical instrument with a keyboard, pipes, and a bellows.
d. a strophic song.
e. two or more voices singing different notes in agreeable combinations according to
given rules.
e. two or more voices singing different notes in agreeable combinations according to
given rules.
Why is early polyphony considered a sort of gloss on the chant repertory?
a. The added melodies elaborated on the authorized chants.
b. The added melodies improved the authorized chants.
c. Polyphony enabled composers to assign rhythmic values to the chant melodies.
d. Polyphony replaced the authorized chants.
e. Polyphony was composed in the most significant centers of learning in western Christendom.
a. The added melodies elaborated on the authorized chants.
The earliest written polyphony exhibited all of the following musical elements that continued to occupy composers throughout the history of Western music EXCEPT
a. phrasing. d. meter.
b. counterpoint. e. notation.
c. harmony.
d. meter
Fourteenth-century music saw an increased use of thirds and sixths as
a. cadences. d. perfect consonances.
b. dissonances. e. perfections.
c. imperfect consonances.
c. imperfect consonances
The following is an example of
a. color. d. mensuration.
b. hocket. e. talea.
c. isorhythm.
b. hocket
Machaut’s virelai Douce dame jolie uses the literary theme of
a. Ars Subtilior. d. pastorelle.
b. chanson de geste. e. satire.
c. fin’amors.
c. fin’amors.
The Roman de Fauvel is an allegory about
a. the Ars Nova. d. corruption at the French court.
b. the Babylonian Captivity. e. the Great Schism.
c. the Black Death.
d. corruption at the French court
The treatise known as Ars nova describes
a. corruption at the French court.
b. an expanded system of rhythm and meter.
c. the formes fixes.
d. a more precise method of notating pitch than had existed previously.
e. new rules for harmonic progressions and dissonance control.
b. an expanded system of rhythm and meter.
Notating syncopation was impossible before the innovations of the Ars Nova. T/F
T
The term talea refers to a repeating segment of melody in the tenor of an isorhythmic motet. T/F
F
Machaut authored the texts of his monophonic and polyphonic chansons. T/F
T
The Ars Subtilior was cultivated at the papal court in Avignon. T/F
T
The classifications haut (“high”) and bas (“low”) refer to the relative loudness of instruments. T/F
T
From what manuscript did the image below come? How can you tell?
The image is from the Roman de Fauvel. The manuscript contains music, poetry, and images and tells the story of a horse named Fauvel. The horse appears in the center column at the top and bottom.
Define hocket.
Hocket is a rapid alternation of sounded pitches and rests in two voices. In isorhythmic motets passages of hocket sometimes alternate with repetitions of the talea. Compositions that make extensive use of the technique are called hockets.
What is the main characteristic of the Ars Subtilior repertory?
an emphasis on rhythmic and mensural complexity, taking the developments of the Ars Nova to an extreme
