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Western Music: Tradition and Religious Music Development Can Be Traced Back in Europe During The Medieval Period From

The medieval period saw the development of Western music tradition between 400-1400 CE. Gregorian chant, the official music of the Roman Catholic Church, emerged during this time. It was monophonic in texture with all voices singing in unison. Chant melodies moved within a narrow pitch range and avoided wide leaps. Neumes, the system of musical notation used at the time, indicated melodic direction through symbols placed above syllables. Gregorian chant remains one of the earliest surviving forms of Western plainchant.

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38 views

Western Music: Tradition and Religious Music Development Can Be Traced Back in Europe During The Medieval Period From

The medieval period saw the development of Western music tradition between 400-1400 CE. Gregorian chant, the official music of the Roman Catholic Church, emerged during this time. It was monophonic in texture with all voices singing in unison. Chant melodies moved within a narrow pitch range and avoided wide leaps. Neumes, the system of musical notation used at the time, indicated melodic direction through symbols placed above syllables. Gregorian chant remains one of the earliest surviving forms of Western plainchant.

Uploaded by

vj hernandez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Medieval Period

Western music tradition


and religious music
development can be
traced back in Europe
during the Medieval
Period from 400 to
1 1400 CE.
Medieval Period
It is also known
as “Middle Age”,
referring to the
fall of the
Roman Empire.
2
Medieval Period

3
Medieval Period
Most music of
“Dark Ages” was
based upon a
religious subject.
4
Medieval Period
• Music for the knights
• Nobles in castles
• Chants for the priests
Kind of Music
5
Medieval Period
Only the music of the
church is well-preserved
because at that time people
of the Church were
educated
6
Medieval Period
Monks are
requested to
read and write
to be familiar
with the
7
scriptures
Vocal Music
Gregorian Chant
It was an official
music of the Roman
Catholic Church
named after Pope
Gregory the Great.
Gregorian Chant

It is also
named plain
song or plain
chant.
Gregorian Chant
Characteristics
• Simple and elaborate but tend to
move pitches within a narrow range

• Melodic style avoid wide leaps and


dynamic contrasts.
Gregorian Chant
Characteristics
• All voice are together in
unison thus considered
monophonic in texture.
Gregorian Chant
Characteristics
• Male voices sing in unison
when performing a chant.
Gregorian Chant

Gregorian notation used


different signs called Neumes
Gregorian Chant

Nuemes always
starts at the
beginning of the
syllable
Gregorian Chant
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
1. Punctum- single note

2. Virga- same as a punctum


Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
3. Podatus (pes)-one note is written
above another note like this: the
bottom note is sung first followed by
the note above it
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
4. Clivis (flexa)-the higher note
comes and is sung first
5. Scandicus- three or more notes go
upward and are sung from the
bottom.
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
6. Salicus- three or more notes go
upward but the middle one has a
vertical episema, slightly prolonging
that note.
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
7. Climacus- three or more notes go
downwards, the first note is sung
first
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
8. Torcolus (pes flexus)- three notes
go up and then back down.
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
9. Porrectus ( flexus resupinus)- this
has a high notes. The line starts at
the first note and goes down to the
middle note.
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
10. Scandicus flexus- four notes go
up and then drop down
11. Porrectus flexus- this is a
porrectus with a low note on the end
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
12. Climacus resupinus- this is the
opposite of scandicus flexus
13. Torculus resupinus- one note
skips upward.
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
14. Pes subbipunctus- one note goes
up and two notes go down.
15. Virga subtripunctis- four notes in
a row go down
Gregorian Chant
Kinds of Neume
16. Virga praertripunctis- four notes
in a row go up.
SYLLABIC- one note per syllable

NEUMATIC- two or more note per syllable

MELISMATIC- many notes per syllable

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