Music Lesson 2

Music of the
Medieval,
Renaissance, and
Baroque Periods
MUSIC OF THE MEDIEVAL,
RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE PERIODS
Prominent Composers of the
Eras
ADAM DE LA HALLE
 Adam de la Halle, was a French-born trouvère, musician, and

poet. He was also known as Adam le Bossu (Adam the
Hunchback). He made history in the world of music during the
medieval Period. He is known for his uniqueness and versatility.
 He was a self-proclaimed genius, often describing himself as
Maistre (Master) because of his completion of some advanced
studies. He also explored and mastered the monophonic
composition and its more complex form-the motet. He died in
Italy 1285.
ADAM DE LA HALLE
 Adam was one of the oldest secular composers whose literary and
musical works include chansons and poetic debates. He was a French-
born trouvére, poet and musician, whose literary and musical works
include chansons and jeux-partis (poetic debates) in the style of the
trouveres, polyphonic rondel and motets in the style of early liturgical
polyphony. His musical play, ―Jeu de Robin et Marion‖ was considered
the earliest surviving secular French play with music.
 His works include:
 1. Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion
 2. La Chanson du roi de Sicile
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA
 Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina an Italian Renaissance
composer of sacred music and the best known 16th–
century representative of the Roman School of musical
composition. He was committed to sacred music and has a
keen interest in satisfying the desires of church leaders in
the sixteenth century. Palestrina’s Pope Marcellus Mass is
held up as the perfect example of counter - reformation
style. Kyrie is part of the first two sections of the Pope
Marcellus Mass. He composed more than 100 mass
settings and over 250 motets. Before he achieved his
goals, he was an organist and a choirmaster. He performed
both at the Sistine and the St. Peter Chapels.
THOMAS MORLEY
 THOMAS MORLEY is another famous composer of the
Renaissance Era. He was born in Norwich, East England, the son of
a brewer. He was a singer in the local cathedral from his boyhood,
and he became master of choristers there in 1583.Thomas Morley
was the most famous composer of secular music in his time. He was
a singer in the local cathedral during his childhood and was believed
to have studied music with William Byrd, an Elizabethan composer
of sacred music. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Oxford and
became an organist at St. Paul’s in London. .
THOMAS MORLEY
  Fire, Fire, My Heart
  Sing and Chant It
  Fantasie
  April Is In My Mistress‟ Face
  It Was A Lover and His Lass
Fire, Fire My Heart
Sing and Chant It
April Is In My Mistress’ Face
It Was a Lover and His Lass
BAROQUE
 The music of the Baroque Period was just as extreme as the new changes. Many of
the illustration’s personalities from the early part of the Baroque Period such as
Antonio Vivaldi and Claudio Monteverdi came from Italy. Later, composers from
Germany, like the famous Bach and Handel, began to take center stage in Baroque
music composition.
GEORGE FRIEDRICH HANDEL
 George Friedrich Handel was the most prolific

composer of this style and wrote many works such as
Israel in Egypt, Saul, Samson, and the most famous
among all - the Messiah , an English language oratorio.
One of the most well-known chorus in the Messiah is
Hallelujah Chorus were the audience is being stand up
while it is being sung.
Johann Sebastian Bach
 Johann Sebastian Bach, Germany, March 21, 1685 – July 28,
1750 – came from a family of musicians. Bach’s beautiful
soprano singing voice helped him to be accepted at a school in
Luneberg. A few years later, his voice changed and Bach
focused his attention to playing the violin and harpsichord.
 Bach was a religious man. His personal and deep faith is shown
in his sacred music. He was known for his compositions for
organ, orchestra, and oratorio. His most important and long –
term position was as ―cantor” at St. Thomas Church.
  Concerto Grosso e.g. Brandenburg Concertos (concerto grosso)
 Masses e.g. Mass in B minor
  Cantatas e.g. Cantata 208 and 211
  Fugues e.g. Fugue in G minor
Antonio Vivaldi
 Antonio Vivaldi, Venice, March 4, 1678 – July
28, 1741 in Vienna – he is also named il Prete
Rosso (“The Red Priest”) because of his red
hair, he was an Italian Baroque composer,
Catholic priest and a virtuoso violinist. His
most famous piece is “The Four Seasons.”
This composition is a series of four violin
concerti depicting each of the seasons,
Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Performance Practices during Medieval,
Renaissance and Baroque Period
 Early Christian Chant—it consisted of psalm, hymn, and some sacred song that
were not part of the liturgy or formal church service. The chant could be sung by a
single chorus: antiphonally, by two alternating choirs or responsorial, by a soloist
alternating with a choir.
 Gregorian Chant— an important part in consolidating the liturgy and music of the
Roman Church. It is usually implies a special branch of plainsong that constitutes
the greatest body of pure melody known to man.
 Troubadour Music—usually monophonic - Sometimes with improvised
accompaniment - Tells of chivalry and courtly love
 Madrigal— The madrigal of Renaissance is a piece of vocal chamber music set for
four to six voices part of equal importance. The text usually deals with sentimental
or love interest. Madrigals were sung in all sorts of courtly social gatherings.
 Mass---is a form of sacred musical composition that sets texts of the Eucharistic
liturgy into music.
 Motet— a style of vocal composition that can be a secular works for solo and
instrumental accompaniment, with or without a choir.
Dramatic Music of Baroque Period
 Oratorio—a religious narrative large scale work for
orchestra and voices performed without costume, scenery
or action. Oratorio makes uses of a narrator, vocal
soloists, chorus and orchestra.
 Cantata— similar to oratorio except that it is a short,
lyrical form. It deals varied subject matter, either
religious or secular. It is also written for a small number
of performer, often limited to soloist with few
accompanying instruments.
 Suite— a set of instrumental compositions for dance
style. Consist of a series of dances derived from social or
court dances of the time. ( Allemande, Courante,
Sarabande, Gigue)
Music of the Medieval
The
period, like any other kind of music, expressed

feelings that are difficult to put into words, and words that
cannot remain silent. One of the most famous trouveres is
Adam dela Halle, who was the composer of one of the
oldest secular music theater pieces known in the West, “Le
Jeu de Robin et Marian”.
The Renaissance may be described as
the age of human creativity- the time where the
brilliant and great artist and composers were born
like Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Music is an
essential part of civic, religious, and courtly life in
this period. It is also a form of prayer as the Mass
served as one of the most important and sacred
form of music, while the text of many of these
Madrigals however centered on themes of spurned
love, which are commonly sad but pleasing to the
senses.
Performance Task no. 2
Group Activity: Move to the Music
1. The class will be divided into 6 groups
2. You will be assigned a segment of the following compositions
Gregorian Chant in Medieval Period
“Fire, Fire, Fire My Heart” by Thomas Morley
“Hallelujah” George F. Handel
“Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi
“Pope Marcellus Mass” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
it was a lover and his Lass ” by Thomas Morley
3. Your group must come up with movements to interpret the assigned musical
selection.
Criteria:
Choreography--------------------5 points
Coordination of Movement---------------5 points
Timing-------------------------------------------------5 points
Expression and Execution of Movements--------5 points
Interpretation of Music----------------------------------------5 points
TOTAL---------------------------------------------------------------------------25 points

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Music of the

 Adam de la Halle, was a French-born trouvère, musician, and

 George Friedrich Handel was the most prolific

period, like any other kind of music, expressed

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