ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF MUSIC

There are many theories regarding when and where music originated. Many agree that music
began even before man existed. Historiographers point out that there are six periods of music
and each period has a particular style that greatly contributed to what music is today. Here are
some resources for you to better understand the history of music. Links are arranged
chronologically and is a great primer to learn more about every stage of music development.

MUSIC OF THE MIDDLE AGES

Music in this style was at first MONOPHONIC i.e. a single melodic line with or without rhythmic
accompaniment. Sacred music was basically acapella while secular music was more likely to
have rhythmic accompaniment. Instrumental Dance Music was measured, but vocal music was
not, the singers took breaths according to the text: THERE WERE NO BAR LINES.

The Medieval Era

(450-1400 CE)
The Medieval Era is the longest and most remote period of musical history. It is important to
note that this music era consists of almost a thousand years’ worth of music. For most of the
middle ages, the Church was the focal point of social life, learning, and the arts. Saint Gregory,
who was pope from 590-604 CE, is said to have organized a huge repertoire of chants that
developed during the first centuries of the Christian church. Thus, the term ‘Gregorian Chant’
came about.

Early medieval music notation did not look like the notation that is used in present day music.
The earliest signs of a notational system for music used neumes. For a long time, musical
notation consisted of the pitch or note that as to be sung. Other musical notation, such as
rhythm, didn’t begin until the 12th or 13th centuries.

Gregorian Chant is monophonic, having one melody line without an accompaniment. It is said
to be very serene, with pure shapes of melody. It is not known who wrote the melodies of the
Gregorian Chant. Similar to folk melodies, it probably changed over time as it was passed down
through generations.

Toward the latter part of the Middle Ages, music consisted of two or more melodic lines that
were heard simultaneously, called polyphony. This appeared around the 1200s. Polyphony
was more difficult to compose that the monophonic chant, because a composer had to
combine multiple melodic lines in a way that would be pleasing to the listener. Most of the
Medieval polyphonic music was anonymous, as the names of composers were never written
down. However, there are a few exceptions, as some composers had works so important that
their names were preserved along with their music.

Although little of it has been preserved, secular song was important to the Medieval Era.
Secular song was monophonic and stylistically more diversified than. It was stronger, and
utilized regular rhythms, and had short rhythmic patterns. It was generally modal but favoured
major (Ionian) and minor (Aeolian) modes.
Plainsong
Also known as plainchant, this is an early form of music existing since c100 CE. It was the only
type of music allowed in the Church and was always sung a capella. This was initially written on
a 4-line staff using neumes instead of modern notes.

Neume
The notation of plainsong. It consisted of just the notehead on a 4-line staff. Sometimes one
syllable would have a melisma to sing.

Melismatic music
This is music that incorporates melismas on single syllables. A melisma is a group of neumes on
one syllable. This added complexity and ornamentation to the plainsong.

A capella
Vocal music sung without accompaniment. It literally means “in the manner of the chapel” in
the times when chapels and churches did not allow instrumental accompaniment.

Gregorian Chant
This consists of monophonic melody set to sacred Latin texts and sung without accompaniment.
It was meant to set an atmosphere for prayers and ritual actions and represents the voice of
the Church rather than any individual. Its rhythm is flexible, without meter, giving it an
improvisational character. The melodies move step by step within a narrow range of pitches.
Some are recitations on a single tone while others are elaborate with complex melodic curves.
Gregorian Chant is named after Pope Gregory I (590-604). Although this type of music existed
before Pope Gregory, he combined different types of chants into one collection which became
known as Gregorian Chant. Gregorian chant is plainsong.
Salve Regina

Monophony
A single melodic line

Homophony
Several parts or harmonies forming chords, but moving in rhythmic unison. Also called chordal
Rex Caeli (Parallel organum)

Polyphony
Two or more parts moving independently of each other. Counterpoint or contrapuntal music is
a type of polyphony.
Pucelete-Je Languis-Domino

Drone
One or more long, sustained tones accompanying a melody. Drones are usually sung but may
also be played by a single instrument.
Benedicamus
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
She was a nun, the abbess of Rupertsberg in Germany. Hildegard was considered one of the
most creative and many-sided personalities of the Middle Ages. A visionary and a mystic, she
was active in religious and diplomatic affairs. She also wrote poetry and music, treatises on
theology, science and medicine, and musical drama – the first female so to do. Her
composition O successores was notated on a manuscript as a single melodic line but is often
sung with an accompanying drone.

The Church modes

Gregorian chants use unfamiliar scales called church modes or modes. Each consists of seven
tones and an eighth tone that duplicates the first tone an octave higher. Each mode has a
different pattern of whole and half steps. These modes were the basic scales of western music
during the Middle Ages and were used in secular as well as sacred music. Even some western
folk music was created in modes.
What shall we do with the drunken sailor (Dorian)
When Johnny comes marching home (Aeolian)

Secular Music in the Middle Ages

French nobles called troubadours and trouvères composed secular music during the 13th
century. Guillaume IX, duke of Aquiraine from the south of France and Chastelain de Couci
from northern France are perhaps the most well-known. These are songs about love, crusades,
dance songs and spinning songs. In southern France there were woman troubadours such as
Beatriz de Dia. During the Middle Ages wandering minstrels or jugglers performed music and
acrobatics in castles, taverns and town squares. These were on the lowest social level and
roamed from village to village in search of steady work. They brought news to communities in
the days before newspapers and sang songs written by other composers, playing instrumental
dances on harps, fiddles and lutes.
Summer is icumen in

Organum
Between 700 and 900 CE monks began adding a second melody line to their chants. This
accompanying line mimicked the melody at a different pitch, usually the interval of a fourth or
fifth, and was always in parallel motion with it. This is called organum and is a form of
homophony. Between 900 and 1200 the organum became more independent and developed
its own melody line instead of always moving in parallel. Because of great respect for the
Church, organum was created to accompany existing chants, even though it moved
independently. This was the beginning of polyphony.
Tu Patris Sempiternis Es Fillus (simple organum)

Guido d’Arezzo
An Italian music theorist of the 10th century who is regarded as the inventor of modern staff
notation and solfa. His text Micrologus, was the second most widely distributed treatise on
music in the Middle Ages.
Ut Queant Laxis
Measured Rhythm
The School of Notre Dame was named after choirmasters of the newly built Notre Dame
cathedral, who developed rhythmic innovations to Gregorian Chant. They added measured
rhythms, clearly defining the required meter and adding time values to their notation. These
composers were followers of Leonin (who pioneered rhythmic modes) and Perotin (who
created organum triplum and organum quadruplum – 3 & 4 part harmony) between 1170-
1200. Thirds began to be used in harmonies rather than fourths, adding for a fuller
harmonization. This schools also introduced conductus which was a sacred, though non-
liturgical rhythmic vocal music.
Congaudeant Catholici by Albertus Parisiensis (Conductus organum triplum)

14th Century Ars Nova Music

Now with the new musical notation that included rhythms, composers wrote polyphonic music
not based on Gregorian chants and which were secular in nature, describing everyday life.
Pieces imitated bird calls, barking dogs and shouting hunters and included the beginning of
syncopation. These changes were so profound the music became to be known as New Art or
Ars Nova in Latin.

Guillaume de Machaut (c1300-1377)

De Machaut was famous both as a musician and poet. He worked for many noble families and
was secretary and chaplain to John, King of Bohemia. During his many trips to various courts he
presented his music, beautifully decorated, to his patrons. It is these copies that have survived.
Most of his songs are secular love songs. His Notre Dame mass is the first of its kind – a
polyphonic treatment of the mass ordinary by a known composer.
Agnus Dei from Notre Dame Mass

Mass ordinary or Roman Liturgy

This consists of 5 sections that are used in every mass – Kyrie (Lord of mercy), Gloria (Glory to
God), Credo (Creed), Sanctus (Holy), and Agnus Dei (Lord have mercy)