Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance Module Overview

Renaissance guitar Image

Introduction

In this module students will learn many of the main composers and musical techniques used during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods which span the years of 450 - 1450 for Middle Ages and 1450 - 1600 for the Renaissance. Students will also be able to hear authentic recordings of actual vocal and instrumental music from these time periods.

Essential Questions

What were the important historical events that took place during the Middle Ages?
What were the important musical compositions of the Middle Ages?
Who were the important composers of the Middle Ages?
What were the important historical events that took place during the Renaissance?
What were the important musical compositions of the Renaissance?
Who were the important composers of the Renaissance?

Key Terms

Polyphony – music with more than one melodic line
Organum– Gregorian Chant that adds one or more melodic lines.
Medieval – another term for Middle Ages
Gregorian Chant - official music of the Roman Catholic Church
Minstrel - traveling musicians
De Machaut – famous composer and poet of the Middle Ages
School of Notre Dame – A school of music and thought centered on polyphonic music.
Leonin – One of two choirmasters of the Notre Dame Cathedral who began the Notre Dame School of Music.
Perotin - One of two choirmasters of the Notre Dame Cathedral who began the Notre Dame School of Music.
Renaissance – Rebirth
Mass – A polyphonic choral composition in five sections: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei
Motet – Similar to the mass, it is a polyphonic choral composition set to Latin text other than the five sections of ordinary of the mass.
Secular Music – Music that was outside of the church

Key Terms Review

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