medieval music study guide
1. define gregorian chant, monophony, and harmony. who was pope during the creation of gregorian chant?
2. which meter did the religious music of the middle ages use?
3. define troubador, trouvere, and minnesingers. only one definition is required, but write all three locations.
4. list and define the two secular music styles discussed in class.
5. what is a hurdy gurdy?
6. what are the three checkboxes for if something is a lute? decide whether a guitar, violin, and/or banjo is a lute.

Question

Accepted Answer

### Question 1: Define Gregorian Chant, monophony, and harmony. Who was Pope during the creation of Gregorian Chant?
#### Brief Explanations:
- **Gregorian Chant**: Monophonic, unaccompanied liturgical music of the Roman Catholic Church, with a free rhythm, based on Latin texts, used in religious services.
- **Monophony**: A musical texture with a single melodic line, no harmonic accompaniment (e.g., Gregorian Chant).
- **Harmony**: The combination of simultaneous musical notes to create chords, adding depth and richness (opposite of monophony in texture).
- **Pope during creation**: Pope Gregory I (the Great, c. 590 - 604 CE) is traditionally associated with organizing and codifying Gregorian Chant, though its development was gradual and involved later contributions too.
#### Answer:
- Gregorian Chant: Monophonic, unaccompanied liturgical vocal music of the Roman Catholic Church, with Latin texts, free rhythm, used in worship.
- Monophony: Musical texture with one melodic line (no harmony).
- Harmony: Combining simultaneous notes (chords) for musical depth.
- Pope during creation: Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great).

### Question 2: Which meter did the Religious music of the Middle Ages use?
#### Brief Explanations:
Medieval religious music (e.g., Gregorian Chant) used **free rhythm** (no fixed meter like 4/4 or 3/4) — it followed the natural rhythm of Latin text, with phrases shaped by the text’s accentuation, not a regular beat pattern.
#### Answer:
Medieval religious music (e.g., Gregorian Chant) used free rhythm (no fixed meter); it followed the text’s natural rhythm (Latin liturgical texts) without a regular beat.

### Question 3: Define Troubador, Trouvere, and Minnesingers. Only one definition is required, but write all three locations.
#### Brief Explanations:
- **Troubadors**: Medieval poet - musicians in southern France (Provence) who composed and performed secular songs (lyrics in Occitan) about courtly love, chivalry, and nature.
- **Trouveres**: Northern French (Paris - region) poet - musicians, similar to Troubadors, composing secular songs in Old French, focusing on courtly love and chivalric themes.
- **Minnesingers**: German poet - musicians (12th - 14th centuries) who composed “Minnesang” (courtly love songs) in Middle High German, performing at German courts, emphasizing chivalry and spiritual love.
- **Locations**: Troubadors (Southern France/Provence), Trouveres (Northern France), Minnesingers (Germany).
#### Answer:
- Troubadors: Medieval poet - musicians in **Southern France (Provence)**; composed secular songs (Occitan) about courtly love.
- Trouveres: Medieval poet - musicians in **Northern France**; composed secular songs (Old French) about courtly love.
- Minnesingers: Medieval poet - musicians in **Germany**; composed “Minnesang” (courtly love songs) in Middle High German.

### Question 4: List and define the two secular music styles discussed in class.
#### Brief Explanations:
Common secular styles in Medieval Europe:
1. **Chanson (Troubadour/Trouvere Song)**: Secular vocal music by Troubadors (Southern France) and Trouveres (Northern France); lyrics in Occitan (Troubadors) or Old French (Trouveres), focused on courtly love, chivalry, and nature, with monophonic or simple polyphonic texture.
2. **Minstrelsy (Minnesang - related)**: German Minnesingers’ secular songs (“Minnesang”) in Middle High German, emphasizing courtly love, chivalry, and spiritual devotion, performed at courts, with monophonic melodies and poetic lyrics.
(Note: Other options could include “Estampie” (instrumental dance music), but courtly love songs are more iconic for secular Medieval music.)
#### Answer:
1. **Troubadour/Trouvere Song (Chanson)**: Secular vocal music from southern (Troubadors, Occitan) and northern France (Trouveres, Old French); lyrics about courtly love, chivalry, or nature, with monophonic/simple polyphonic texture.
2. **Minnesang (Minnesingers’ Songs)**: German secular vocal music; lyrics in Middle High German, focused on courtly love, chivalry, and spiritual themes, performed at courts, with monophonic melodies.

### Question 5: What is a Hurdy Gurdy?
#### Brief Explanations:
A **Hurdy - Gurdy** is a medieval stringed instrument: it has a wheel (turned by a crank) that rubs against strings (like a violin’s bow), and keys (like a keyboard) to change notes. It produces a continuous, drone - like sound, used in secular and (later) religious music, popular with traveling musicians.
#### Answer:
A Hurdy - Gurdy is a medieval stringed instrument with a crank - turned wheel (to “bow” strings) and keys (to change notes); it produces a drone - like, continuous sound, used in secular/religious music.

### Question 6: What are the three checkboxes for if something is a lute? Decide whether a guitar, violin, and/or banjo is a lute.
#### Brief Explanations:
Lute - like instruments share: 1) **Plucked string** (vs. bowed, like violin); 2) **Fretted neck** (raised frets for pitch); 3) **Hollow body** (resonates sound).
- **Guitar**: Plucked, fretted, hollow body → Lute - like (yes).
- **Violin**: Bowed, no frets (fretless), hollow body → Not a lute (bowed, no frets).
- **Banjo**: Plucked, fretted (modern banjos), hollow body (resonator) → Lute - like (yes, especially 5 - string banjo with frets).
#### Answer:
Lute checkboxes: 1) Plucked string; 2) Fretted neck; 3) Hollow body.
- Guitar: Yes (plucked, fretted, hollow).
- Violin: No (bowed, fretless).
- Banjo: Yes (plucked, fretted, hollow/resonator).

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Explanation:

Question 1: Define Gregorian Chant, monophony, and harmony. Who was Pope during the creation of Gregorian Chant?

Answer:

Question 2: Which meter did the Religious music of the Middle Ages use?