Middle Ages & Renaissance Study Guide (Unit 2)
Middle Ages
Dates: 500-1450
1. What was going historically during this era? What was life like? It was a chaotic period of social and political unrest. Religious and political differences between and within regions led to nearly constant warfare.
The life of all the classes was dominated by the feudal system - feudalism.
2. Who or what had the power? The church
3. Who were learned or literate? holy men or people of important status such as kings, queens, and knights most other people were illiterate
4. Who were allowed to sing in church? Only men were allowed to sing in church
5. Most of the music that was notated during the middle ages was sacred or secular? sacred
6. Was most medieval music vocal? yes
7. What is Gregorian Chant? Discuss its origin, texture, melody, rhythm, text. How did it receive its name? What is its purpose? Music to which portions of the Roman Catholic service are sung by unaccompanied voices singing in unison. The melodies of Gregorian chant are commonly sung a cappella and in unison by men and boys, or by women in female religious institutions such as convents. The rhythm is free and flexible. The text may be treated in a syllabic manner with one note of music corresponding to each syllable of text.
8. When chant was notated, was the rhythm notated or just the melody? Gregorian Chant and just the melody
9. What are church modes? any of a system of modes used in Gregorian chants up until 1600
10. What is the Mass? Roman Catholic worship service
11. What is the Proper of the Mass? Parts of the mass change according to the seasons of the church year around Easter and others at Christmastime; they are proper or appropriate, only at certain times.
12. What is the Ordinary of the Mass? Parts of the mass celebrated at any season of the year or time of the day.
13. Who is Hildegard of Bignen? 12th century Benedictine abbess who was a composer of sacred song and chant
14. When did composers begin to
Dates: 500-1450
1. What was going historically during this era? What was life like? It was a chaotic period of social and political unrest. Religious and political differences between and within regions led to nearly constant warfare.
The life of all the classes was dominated by the feudal system - feudalism.
2. Who or what had the power? The church
3. Who were learned or literate? holy men or people of important status such as kings, queens, and knights most other people were illiterate
4. Who were allowed to sing in church? Only men were allowed to sing in church
5. Most of the music that was notated during the middle ages was sacred or secular? sacred
6. Was most medieval music vocal? yes
7. What is Gregorian Chant? Discuss its origin, texture, melody, rhythm, text. How did it receive its name? What is its purpose? Music to which portions of the Roman Catholic service are sung by unaccompanied voices singing in unison. The melodies of Gregorian chant are commonly sung a cappella and in unison by men and boys, or by women in female religious institutions such as convents. The rhythm is free and flexible. The text may be treated in a syllabic manner with one note of music corresponding to each syllable of text.
8. When chant was notated, was the rhythm notated or just the melody? Gregorian Chant and just the melody
9. What are church modes? any of a system of modes used in Gregorian chants up until 1600
10. What is the Mass? Roman Catholic worship service
11. What is the Proper of the Mass? Parts of the mass change according to the seasons of the church year around Easter and others at Christmastime; they are proper or appropriate, only at certain times.
12. What is the Ordinary of the Mass? Parts of the mass celebrated at any season of the year or time of the day.
13. Who is Hildegard of Bignen? 12th century Benedictine abbess who was a composer of sacred song and chant
14. When did composers begin to