The medieval music period was from the years c.500 until 1400. For more detailed information on the medieval music era go to: https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/pe…
There are some key characteristics of medieval music covered in this video lesson: Monophonic Music – most medieval music has only one line of melody. Church Music – a large proportion of the music from the medieval era that we still have access to is from church music. The Catholic mass was a sung celebration in Latin that was (and still is) widespread. As a result, unaccompanied monophonic vocal styles such as Gregorian chant characterise the medieval period. Modes – Medieval music used modes. There were 8 modes in total. Modes were the forerunners of the major and minor scales. Instruments – there were a number of typical medieval instruments. These included the medieval flute (a wooden instrument with a sound much like the modern day recorder), the lyra (thought to be one of the earliest bowed stringed instruments of the Western classical tradition) and the dulcimer – a plucked stringed instrument. The medieval period of music also witnessed the development of early sheet music notes with the use of nuemes. Also, secular music developed during the medieval era with troubadours and trouveres travelling around performing their music. The development of “Ars Nova” (New Art) was also a major development as it brought with it new rhythmic complexity and an increased use of basic polyphonic ideas…
The Renaissance Music Period is from c.1400-1600. It covers a period of time in history where there were great changes across a wide range of aspects of life from arts to architecture, from voyages of discovery to a reformation of beliefs. Many thinkers, artists and musicians were inspired by a “re-birth” of ideas from classical Greek and Roman civilisations. https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/pe… This video looks at the typical characteristics of Renaissance music, including polyphony, a clearer sense of structure and rhythmic order. The first example played is “Lamentations I” by Thomas Tallis, performed by The Tudor Consort. The video examines the sacred music of the period amidst the continued predominance of the Catholic church. Polyphonic masses in Latin and the use of modal counterpoint are discussed. An example performance of William Byrd’s “Credo” by Ensemble Morales is played. The secular music of the Renaissance period is also explored. The importance of the courts who provided finance for the musicians is discussed and examples of typical songs, such as the chanson, Lied and madrigal are given. An example of Monteverdi’s “Cruda Amarilli” performed by MIT Chorus is given. Renaissance instruments are introduced, including the lute, sackbut, keyboard instruments and viol da gamba. A number of renaissance composers are listed as recommended listening. In addition, a performance of “Mille Regretz” by Josquin Des Prez (performed by Collegium Vocale) is played. All performances are used under the relevant Creative Commons Licenses and the links to the relevant groups are listed below. I would very much encourage you to listen to more of these groups’ recordings: https://www.tudor-consort.org.nz/
https://www.collegiumvocale.com/en/
https://mta.mit.edu/music/performance…
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An introduction to Baroque music covering the composers, features, instruments, forms and vocal music of the Baroque period. https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/pe… I am very grateful to the Bach Netherlands Society for permission to use their videos in this lesson. Please check out their Youtube channel for more fabulous performances of Bach: / bachvereniging This video includes examples of Baroque music from the 3 most famous baroque period composers – Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederic Handel and Antonio Vivaldi. The opening example is taken from Bach’s Easter Oratorio and is performed by the Netherlands Bach Society. The key features of Baroque music are discussed. The tonality of the era is explained as music moved from being modal to the establishment of major and minor keys. Baroque melodies are also explained. Composers in the period wrote melodies using motifs which were imitated, developed and decorated with ornaments such as trills. Counterpoint was a crucial technique used by many Baroque composers and this music theory video lesson explains how counterpoint works and gives an example from a Bach Cantata. Contrast was also a key feature of Baroque music. This contrast was expressed through terraced dynamics (abrupt changes in volume), differences between solo and ensemble instrumentation and through the increasingly wide variety of instruments. Typical Baroque instruments are covered in this lesson – recorders, flutes, violins, violas, cellos, double basses, timpani, harpsichord and organ are all introduced. Various examples are played, including a Handel Flute sonata, Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto No. 4 (“Winter”) and the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ. The lesson also covers the typical forms of Baroque music, including the concerto grosso and its characteristic antiphonal sound, the sonata (including continuo accompaniment) and the suite. The usual components of a Baroque suite – Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue are discussed and an example is played of Bach’s Prelude from his Cello Suite No. 1. The final part of this lesson on the Baroque period covers vocal music, in particular the big sacred works of oratorio, passion, cantata, mass and anthem. The rise of solo vocal works, notably the da capo aria is discussed. The recordings from the Moderna Chamber Orchestra and the Telemann Trio are public domain recordings used through the Creative Commons.
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More to come…