Gothic Music

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Gothic Music

• Early musicplainchantsoloist answered by a
  chorus
• Gothic2 or 3 singers answered by a chorus
• Cantus firmusfixed songestablished basis and
  adding voices in ascending ordertenor, duplum,
  triplum, quadruplum
• Verticality in music
• More complexity

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Motet

• Sacred music, a capella
• Used in liturgy, but not part of regular mass
• Cantus firmus, lowest part (tenor)
• Contrapuntal voices added over it
• Each voice is a different melodic line
• Usually three parts
• Three distinct sets of words
• Started to mix vernacular with Latin
• Would hear French verses over Latin
• Becomes madrigal (secular) in Renaissance

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Secular Music

• Troubadourscomposer poets in the courts. Wrote
  and sang songs of love about ladies and knights.
  Wrote in the vernacular. Southern France
• Instruments also introduced harps, lutes, rebecs
  (fiddle), flutes (could be played by women,
  softer)
• Louder instruments were trumpets, sackbuts (like
  a trombone), shawms (like an oboe), drums
• Usually strophic--repeated stanzas

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• North of France, composer-performers called
  trouveres. Usually lower class, did not perform
  in courts
• In Germany called Minnesingers
• Women could become trouveres

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Types of Secular Songs

• Madrigal especially popular in Italy and
  England
• Aria Italian (popular in 14th century)
• Chansonspolyphonic love songs
• Aire with lute accompaniment

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Medieval Dance

• Estampie
• Involves vigorous hopping
• Sliding step
• Courtly dance

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Sackbut

• http//www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/instrumt.html

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Rebec
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Portative Organ
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Crumhorn
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Shawm
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Dies Irae

• Written by a Franciscan monk (early 13th
  century), Thomas of Celano.
• Sacred
• Written in Latin
• Written as a poem (rhyming words)
• About Judgment Day (Day of Wrath)
• Became part of the mass for the dead (requiem)
• Stanzas in three lines

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Dies Irae

• Day of wrath, day thatwill dissolve the world
  into burning coals,as David bore witness with
  the Sibyll.
• How great a tremor is to be,when the judge is to
  comebriskly shattering every (grave).
• Among the sheep offer (me) a placeand from the
  goats sequester me,placing (me) at (Thy) right
  hand.

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Canticle of the Sun

• Lauds-songs of praise
• Written by St. Francis and his circle
• 14th century on lauds became most popular
  religious music
• Bridge between secular and sacred music
• Always had religious words
• Simple and direct-like folk songs
• Unequal stanzas

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Canticle of the Sun

• Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All
  praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all
  blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they
  belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce
  your name.
• Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
  especially through my lord Brother Sun, who
  brings the day and you give light through him.
  And he is beautiful and radiant in all his
  splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the
  likeness.
• Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the
  stars in the heavens you have made them,
  precious and beautiful.
• Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and
  Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
  through which you give your creatures
  sustenance.
• Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive
  for love of you through those who endure
  sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in
  peace, for by you, Most High, they will be
  crowned.
• Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily
  Death, from whose embrace no living person can
  escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy
  those she finds doing your most holy will. The
  second death can do no harm to them..