Marin Haffey

November 18, 2011

Medieval Music of the Middle Ages
The time period known as the middle ages lasted from the fifth to the fifteenth century. It
was a time of great advances in music. In this paper I will summarize different types of medieval
music. I will be covering basic instruments and describing the innovation in musical notation.
Then separately describe the music of the early, high, and late medieval ages as well as compare
and contrast them. Finally I will share my own opinions of medieval music, explaining how it
has greatly influenced some of the music we listen to today.
First lets start with musical instruments of the time period. There are three main
categories of instruments used during the time wind, stringed, and percussion. All of these
categories have many instruments within them. Some of these are still common instruments we
use today and others need explanation.
Wind instruments included the flute, trumpet, recorder and bagpipe. Other winds
included the pipe, which was simple and had three melody holes, the shawn which was a reed
instrument with vent holes, the crumhorn or curved horn which was double reeded, and the
gemshorn which was made of an ox horn and played like a flute. The only common string
instruments were the harp and the fiddle. There were other strings that resemble what we have
today. These included the rebec which was similar to the violin, and the psaltery which was a
cross between a harp and a guitar. There were also string instruments that were original to the
time and are not comparable to anything we have today such as the dulcimer which was played
by striking the strings with small hammers, and the hurdy-gurdy where strings attached to a
wheel which was cranked by a handle. Percussion instruments of the middle ages were all
common that we use today including the drum, cymbal, triangle, and tambourine.

One large part of medieval music was the use of notation. Some was used in periods
before but not as sophisticated. The notation integrated many components including clefs and
staves, rhythm, and note groups. Staves and clefs were very important part in medieval music
notation. Most staves had four lines and there were two types of clef, C and F. These staves
indicated where notes would be located. This notation was also used for Monks voices clefs will
usually be placed higher on the stave so that more notes appear on the stave without the need to
resort to ledger lines.1 C clef is used the most. Pitch and rhythm are notated by neumes which
are small squares placed on the staff to show pitch. These notations are breve, maxima, long, and
semi-breve.
There are six main rhythms that arranged in different ways create a melody. These
include long breve, breve long, long breve breve, breve breve long, long long long long long,
and breve breve breve breve breve. Along with rhythm there was also a form of pitch used. There
were many different note groups used. Some of these included
Virga, or a single long note, Podatus, or lower note then upper, Scandicus, or three rising notes.
There were also groups for up and down notation, up down and up, as well as even some notes
that remain the same. These concepts are similar to those we use in musical notation today.
Music was influential throughout all the middle ages. In the early middle ages brought the
Gregorian chant, in the high middle ages Troubadours were popular, and the medieval era of
music came to a closure in the late middle ages with the Ars subtilior.
In general a chant is not many pitches and follows a simple melody. Chants were very
popular during the time and were used in the earliest music of the Christian church. In current
church services today the entire congregation singing together is an example of the Gregorian
1 http://www.dolmetsch.com/medieval.pdf Page 1.

chant. One of the most common Gregorian chants that is still used in church services is the
Kyrie. This song has three repetitive parts Kyrie eleison" ("Lord, have mercy"), "Christe
eleison" ("Christ have mercy"), another "Kyrie eleison." And finally Kyrie eleison imas"
("Lord, have mercy on us"). The Gregorian chant is named after Pope Gregory I who was the
Bishop of Rome from 590 to 604. He assigned specific music selections to celebrations in the
church.
Troubadours of the high medieval times were very different. People easily became bored
of the simple melodies of chants. Troubadours were something completely different. These
songs had many instruments and were sung by vocalists. Troubadours played instruments and
sang their songs. They were generally also skilled poets. Most of the songs they sang were about
war, chivalry and courtly love. When they first appeared Troubadours were considered to be
simply traveling musicians. They traveled from place to place with their instruments and voices
spreading the news. Later the roles of troubadours changed as they became elite. Many
troubadours were nobles and knights who had joined the Crusades.2
The late medieval age was the ending period that brought the Ars subtilior. This was a
complicated form of music. Not only were the rhythms complex and not matched until the 20th
century but the music was as complicated to read as it was to play. Sheet music was formed into
shapes such as The chanson Belle, bonne, sage by Baude Cordier which was printed in the shape
of a heart.
These three styles midlevel of music are not comparable to each other in the slightest. I
feel that they each have their own individual aspects that set them apart. For early medieval ages
the music was mostly vocal with simple melodies. In the high middle ages everything got

2 http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/troubadours.htm

switched around when troubadours came around and played their instruments while singing their
story. And there is little information about the late ages of the Ars subtilior, but for what I could
tell it was confusing.
I feel without the musical influence of the middle ages music would not be as it is today.
So many different instruments were introduced during the time. Also the innovations in musical
notation were the building blocks of musical notation we use today. The topic I have most
opinions on in this paper is the three types of music found in the middle ages.
I enjoy the Troubadour music most but also like the Chant. I like the concepts of both
styles of music. The concept of the chants is nice because of the melody being so simple that
everyone can sing together. The concept of troubadour music with a singer and a guitar sharing
their story is perfect. Troubadour seems like the type of music I like to listen to now. I like the
simplicity of an artist sharing their story with a guitar in their hand using their real talent instead
of machines to change everything. All a true musician needs to make music is a voice and an
instrument. Just like me and my ukulele.

Sources
General: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-music/musicians.htm
Instruments: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/musical-instruments-middle-ages.htm
Notation: http://www.dolmetsch.com/medieval.pdf
Gregorian chant: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/gregorianchants.htm
Troubadours http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/troubadours.html
Ars subtilior http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-music/musicians.htm