Lesson 7
Monophonic means one sound.
Polyphonic means many sounds.
Remember our music history timeline? Music sounded different during each of these musical periods.
Today we will take a closer look at the Medieval Period and the Renaissance Period.
The Medieval Period lasted during the years 800-1450.
The Medieval Period is also known as the Middle Ages. This was the time period after the Roman Empire ended and when feudalism was popular.
Feudalism is a social system where peasants promised to work for a lord, and the lord promised the peasants a place to live and protection from invaders.
Most of the music that was written down during the Medieval Period was music composed by Catholic monks living in monasteries. Their written music looked very ornate, or fancy.
The church building was often called the chapel. Medieval church music (or chapel music) did not use instruments.
A thousand years later we still call music that uses no instruments “a cappella,” which is Italian for “in chapel style.”
The monks’ church music sounded monophonic. Mono means one, and phonic means sound. Their monophonic music was one sound.
That means all the singers sang the same notes, which made their voices sound like one sound.
This monophonic church music is associated with Pope Gregory the Great, so it is often called Gregorian chant. Paintings of this pope would include a dove, which represented the Holy Spirit.
Listen to part of this monophonic Gregorian chant called “Procedamus in Pace.” That is Latin for “Let us proceed in peace.”
Listen to this monophonic Gregorian chant from the Medieval Period.
Not all Medieval music was a cappella. The song below is accompanied by a lute. “Accompanied” means an instrument plays with a singer.
Versions of a lute have been played for thousands of years. The guitar was not developed until the Renaissance Period.
This song is called “Santa Maria, Strela do Dia.” That title means “Saint Mary, Star of Day.”
Church music is called sacred. Non-church music is called secular. Medieval sacred music was a cappella and serious.
But not all Medieval music was a cappella or serious. Enjoy this recording of what secular Medieval music probably sounded like. The video shows old art and modern photos.
The Renaissance Period lasted during the years 1450-1600.
Renaissance is the French word for rebirth. During the Renaissance Period there was a lot of change in education, science, and art.
This is when Johann Gutenberg invented an improved printing press. That technology allowed many Bibles to be printed so that more people could read the Bible themselves.
Gutenberg Printing Press
Bible printed on Gutenberg printing press
Their music sounded polyphonic. Poly means many, and phonic means sound.
Their polyphonic music was many sounds all playing or singing at different times. Listen to the polyphonic music from the Renaissance Period.
The polyphonic song below is called “Jubilate Deo.” That is Latin for “Sing Joyfully to God.” Click the play button to hear a kids choir sing.
Renaissance musicians used some very interesting instruments. Enjoy this video of modern musicians recreating a Renaissance performance.
You watched it, so now let’s try it!