MUL 2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Homophony, Guillaume De Machaut, Monophony
2 Nov 2017
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Document Summary
Secular music: entertainment, ceremonies, about love, heroism, pain. Polyphony used largely in both types from 10th century: music for sacred spaces. Plainchant, prayers, psalms, hymns, poetry: music for entertainment. Topics: love, heroism, pastoral life, pain, pleasure of human life: music for dancing. Until 10th century, music was transmitted orally. Earliest manuscripts show simple symbols 2 indicate pitch up/down. Morality play: good vs evil over 1 soul. 16 virtues: 16 singers (music = heaven) Satan: no music: monophonic texture: plainchant. Projects text w/ clarity & melodic beauty -> enhance meaning of words: medieval melody. Mostly conjunct motion, occasionally disjunct -> provide variety & clear profile. Cadence: begin w/ leaps then to the beginning note. Play of virtues: dorian mode: begin & cadence on note d: projecting words thru music. Syllabic: set each syllable to 1 note -> clarity. Melisma: set each syllable to 2+ notes -> variety, emphasizes key words.
