The
spread of Christianity
The Christian religion began as an underground sect
of messianic Judaism in the first century C.E. Its
practitioners were first persecuted, then tolerated;
finally Christianity was accepted as the official
religion of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the
Western Empire, it emerged as the central unifying
force in medieval Europe.
The development of a European culture
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth
century, the former Roman lands were ruled by
various barbarian lords. These lands were eventually
united by the Frankish kings, culminating in the
crowning of Charlemagne (742-814) as Holy Roman
Emperor.
The influence of Islamic culture
As the followers of the prophet Mohammed (570?-632)
expanded their territory through the Middle East and
the Mediterranean, they preserved and built on the
knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Through
conflict (the Crusades) and coexistence (the
multicultural Iberian Peninsula), Europe gained much
from its contacts with this rich culture.
Musical Context
The Music of the Church
Music was an integral part of Christian worship.
The daily liturgy provided innumerable texts, all set to music
in the style we call Gregorian chant.
The church served as an important patron of the
arts, specifically of music
Throughout the period, the majority of composers
were associated with and supported by the church.
The Beginning of Musical Notation
As in many non-Western cultures, music in early
medieval Europe did not have a system of notation. It was not until
perhaps the ninth century that a basic system of notation was
developed.
Notating music was a difficult and time-consuming
process. It was only in the cathedrals and monasteries that such
work could be done on a regular basis.
Therefore, nearly all the music preserved (until the
twelfth century) was written for the church.
The advent of notation also produced a markedly
stable body of music, one of the features of Western musical
culture.
The Birth of Polyphony
Descriptions of polyphonic singing date back to
the ninth century, but the practice actually began earlier in
improvised performances.
Polyphony is a distinctive feature of Western
music. Its development became the primary focus for composers
from the thirteenth century on.
Complex polyphony demanded specialized training
for composers.
The composition of plainchant was primarily an
activity of the monastery and convent, but by the fourteenth
century, composers were more often members of the
university-trained elite of the church.
This change explains, in part, the lack of
female composers of polyphony.
The Rise of Courtly Culture
The nobility of southern France created an
elaborate society centered on the court, a practice that spread
throughout the whole of Europe.
Music was an important activity of these courts,
and the aristocracy took part in the performance and composition
of secular works. Surviving examples are found in music of the
troubadours and trouvères, beginning in the twelfth century.
By the fourteenth century, the polyphonic style
took hold in secular music.
Secular polyphony was produced by highly trained specialists
in the art of music rather than by the aristocracy.
MUSICAL STYLE
Monophonic Style
A simple monophonic texture might be enriched by
the use of drones and (in secular music) percussion.
Rhythm was often not notated. We assume that it
was tied to text in vocal music and to dance in instrumental
music.
Melodies are often long and flowing. Texted
music is often melismatic.
Form comes from text in vocal music. The
structure of instrumental music is based on repeating sections.
Polyphonic Style
Voices and instruments were often mixed.
Nonimitative counterpoint, with voices moving at
different rhythmic speeds, is the primary texture.
Rhythms are often restless and active.
Melodies are long and asymmetrical.
Harmony is based on open fifths and octaves.
Dissonances are often sharp and unexpected.
Pieces are often built on a cantus firmus, and
the structure is formed from repetitions of that melody.
