Page 22 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

20 INTRODUCTION

Pope Gregory I Frankish ruler The anonymous treatise Hildegard of
gathers plainchant Charlemagne instructs his Musica enchiriadis is Bingen’s musical play
traditions from musicians to employ the published, the first Ordo Virtutum depicts
across the Church nuances of Roman singers, publication to name a war between the
in an attempt to leading to the development musical pitches with Virtues and the Devil
unify them. of neumatic notation. the letters A to G. over the human soul.

C.600 C.800 C.875 C.1151

C.750 C.850 C.1026

Gregorian chant, a The development of Guido d’Arezzo
synthesis of Roman and the sequence, text pens his treatise
Gallican chants, is associated with a Micrologus and
commissioned by French particular chant melody dedicates it to Tedald,
Carolingian rulers. of the Latin Mass, Bishop of Arezzo, in
redefines liturgical music. Tuscany, Italy.

hat is now known it was exclusively vocal music, the melody. At this point, some
as Western Classical without accompaniment, and time in the ninth century, the pace
W music evolved from consisted of a single line of music, of change began to accelerate: a
the music of the medieval Church known as monody, which could be standardized form of church
in Europe, which in turn had its sung by one voice or a choir singing service, the Mass, was established,
roots in Jewish religious music and in unison. The tunes they sang are and specific plainchants were
the music of classical Rome and called “plainchant,” and each assigned to its various sections.
Greece. Our knowledge of this early region had its own collection of Notation also became more
music is limited, however, as it was chants. At the beginning of the sophisticated, with a horizontal
an oral tradition, memorized by seventh century, however, Pope line to clarify the pitch of the notes,
musicians and passed down from Gregory attempted to collect, showing how high or low they are.
generation to generation. The little categorize, standardize, and Most significant musically was
that is known for certain comes teach these regional variations the introduction of “organum,”
from contemporary accounts, which of plainchant as part of his efforts a simple form of harmony. Where
almost exclusively describe sacred to unify liturgical practice. plainchant had consisted of a single
music, as the Church effectively In order to guarantee that line of music, organum had two, and
had a monopoly on literacy. performance of these plainchants later three or even four, lines. One
was standardized across the whole voice would sing the plainchant,
The role of the Church of Christendom, a form of music and the other a parallel line of
The story of classical music begins notation was developed. This used music a few notes higher or lower.
with sacred Latin texts sung by symbols, known as “neumes,” As the music became more
monks as part of acts of worship. written above the text to give a complex over the years, the means
The performance was simple— graphic indication of the shape of of writing it down also evolved,

US_020-021_Chapter_Intro_Early_Music.indd 20 27/03/18 4:49 PM