Music & SocietyMusic & SocietyIn Medieval TuscanyIn Medieval Tuscany

Music in the ChurchMusic in the Church

Cathedrals helped indoctrinate the public & Cathedrals helped indoctrinate the public & reinforced the structure of power.reinforced the structure of power. Cruciform shapeCruciform shape Open, ethereal spaces w/ high windowsOpen, ethereal spaces w/ high windows Altar faced East, towards JerusalemAltar faced East, towards Jerusalem Visual art was stylized and didacticVisual art was stylized and didactic Processions & spectacle highlighted meaningProcessions & spectacle highlighted meaning Music helped get the message outMusic helped get the message out

People “heard” MassPeople “heard” Mass Rood screen made a clear view Rood screen made a clear view

impossibleimpossible Public only took communion a few Public only took communion a few

times a year (Easter, Christmas, etc.)times a year (Easter, Christmas, etc.) Public did not participate in the Public did not participate in the

Mass through responsesMass through responses Public clearly separated from clergyPublic clearly separated from clergy Public did not understand LatinPublic did not understand Latin

Parts of the Cathedral

• Ambulatory: walkway around the apse• Apse: Semicircle east of the sanctuary• Sanctuary: Contained the high altar• Presbytery: Assisting priests sat here• Choir: Where the choir/clergy assembled• Transept: Horizontal part of the cross• Nave: Where the public stood

Music happens in the Choir Music happens in the Choir (duh)(duh)

The Choir (architecture) is the place where The Choir (architecture) is the place where the choir (singers) sat.the choir (singers) sat.

Divided into 2 sides, Divided into 2 sides, decanidecani & & cantoriscantoris, , which faced each otherwhich faced each other

Rood screen separated the clergy & publicRood screen separated the clergy & public Rood screen often wooden or stone, and Rood screen often wooden or stone, and

highly decoratedhighly decorated

So what did they sing?

• Gregorian Chant was the official music of the Catholic Church.

• Supposedly dictated by God to the Holy Spirit, who (in the form of a dove) sang it to Pope Gregory, who sang it to a scribe, who wrote it down.

• Much like a game of telephone• Good story, bad history

Musical StyleMusical StyleSmooth conjunct melodiesSmooth conjunct melodiesStepwise motion & small leapsStepwise motion & small leapsNonmetric (no strong rhythm or beat)Nonmetric (no strong rhythm or beat)Melodies governed by 8 “modes” or scalesMelodies governed by 8 “modes” or scales

Mode: Pattern of whole & half stepsMode: Pattern of whole & half stepsNo sudden or climactic cadencesNo sudden or climactic cadencesAll this is aesthetically intentional!All this is aesthetically intentional!

For example…For example… Chant from the Mass OrdinaryChant from the Mass Ordinary

Sanctus, Sanctus SanctusSanctus, Sanctus Sanctus Dominus Deus SabaothDominus Deus Sabaoth Pleni sunt caeli et tua gloriaPleni sunt caeli et tua gloria Hosanna in excelsisHosanna in excelsis Benedictus qui venit in nomine DomineBenedictus qui venit in nomine Domine Hosanna in excelsisHosanna in excelsis

Writing it down

Bodleian Library, MS add. 30850, f. 105v 11th century Written in neumatic notation

Notation evolvesNotation evolves By the 14th century, By the 14th century,

square notation had square notation had replaced the older replaced the older stylesstyles

Note the use of a Note the use of a musical staff, a musical staff, a forerunner of our forerunner of our modern onemodern one

But what is the Mass Ordinary?But what is the Mass Ordinary?

The texts of the Mass are divided into two The texts of the Mass are divided into two main parts:main parts:

Ordinary texts stay the same every dayOrdinary texts stay the same every day Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus DeiKyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei

Proper texts change every dayProper texts change every day Alleluia, Gradual, Offertory, Communion, etc.Alleluia, Gradual, Offertory, Communion, etc.

As time wears on, composers begin to focus As time wears on, composers begin to focus on the Ordinary texts for polyphonic music.on the Ordinary texts for polyphonic music.

PolyphonyPolyphony Polyphony probably existed in Italian Polyphony probably existed in Italian

medieval churches, but none survives.medieval churches, but none survives. In the late 14th century, there is a surge of In the late 14th century, there is a surge of

polyphonic sacred music in Italypolyphonic sacred music in Italy Johannes Ciconia (1370-1412)Johannes Ciconia (1370-1412)

Son of a priestSon of a priest From France, but worked in RomeFrom France, but worked in Rome Style heavily influence by French musicStyle heavily influence by French music

Ciconia, Ciconia, GloriaGloria (polyphonic) (polyphonic)

Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te. hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratia agimus tibi propter magnam te. Gratia agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, unigenite Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis….mundi, miserere nobis….

Music in the City

• Secular music in medieval Tuscany took several forms:

• Madrigal• Caccia• Ballata• Lauda• Dance music

MadrigalMadrigal Usually written for 2 voicesUsually written for 2 voices Subjects often idyllic or pastoralSubjects often idyllic or pastoral Love was a popular themeLove was a popular theme Sometimes satiricalSometimes satirical Several 3-line stanzas and a closing coupletSeveral 3-line stanzas and a closing couplet

Closing couplet called Closing couplet called ritornelloritornello All stanzas had the same musicAll stanzas had the same music

Eg. Jacopo da Bologna, Eg. Jacopo da Bologna, Vestisse la cornachiaVestisse la cornachia

Caccia

Flourished c. 1345-1370Written for 2-3 equal voices, usually canonic, w the lowest voice set freelyMeans “hunt” or “chase”Irregular poetic forms, often w/ ritornelloDescriptive vocal effects mimic the hunt

Bird songs, horn calls, echos, etc.

Eg. Francesco Landini, De! Dinmi tu

BallataBallata Flourished later than the madrigal & cacciaFlourished later than the madrigal & caccia Originally a song to accompany dancingOriginally a song to accompany dancing Usually for 2-3 voicesUsually for 2-3 voices Similar to the French Similar to the French balladeballade in structure in structure Francesco Landini (1325-1397)Francesco Landini (1325-1397)

Leading composer of Leading composer of ballateballate Blinded as a child by smallpoxBlinded as a child by smallpox

Eg. Landini, Eg. Landini, Non so qual I’ mia volgliaNon so qual I’ mia volglia

Lauda

• Monophonic, vernacular songs• Sung by lay confraternities and penitents in

processions• 13th c. Italy saw a penitential craze, laudesi

companies increased, like Orsanmichele in Florence

• Quasi-sacred: religious texts, but not in Latin and not liturgical

• Eg. Laudate la surrectione

Other monophonic songOther monophonic song TrovatoriTrovatori: like the French : like the French TroubadoursTroubadours

Literally “finders of song”Literally “finders of song” Often aristocratic, singer-songwritersOften aristocratic, singer-songwriters

Example of Troubadour songExample of Troubadour song Beatriz, Countess of Dia- Beatriz, Countess of Dia- A chantar me’rA chantar me’r

Courtly love a popular themeCourtly love a popular theme

Dance MusicDance Music IstampitaIstampita SaltarelloSaltarello Ballata (instrumental performance)Ballata (instrumental performance)

In conclusionIn conclusion Sacred musicSacred music

Gregorian ChantGregorian Chant Some sacred polyphonySome sacred polyphony Laude are quasi-sacredLaude are quasi-sacred

Secular MusicSecular Music MadrigalMadrigal CacciaCaccia BallataBallata Dance musicDance music

To what purpose?To what purpose?

Each type of music served a different Each type of music served a different function in societyfunction in society Chant was reserved for the liturgy itself, and Chant was reserved for the liturgy itself, and

was vital in meditation and indoctrinationwas vital in meditation and indoctrination LaudeLaude provided devotional music provided devotional music Madrigals, Caccie, Ballate all sung by the Madrigals, Caccie, Ballate all sung by the

nobility as entertainment.nobility as entertainment.