Gregorian chant was the main form of sacred music in the Middle Ages. It consisted of a single, unaccompanied melodic line without harmony. Chant was taught orally until Guido d'Arezzo invented the four-line staff musical notation system in the 11th century, making chant the first written music. The Catholic Church was the center of musical life, and chant represented the voice of the Church. Three main styles of chant - syllabic, melismatic, and neumatic - varied based on the relationship between syllables and notes.

1. Music in the Middle AgesMelody vs Polyphony

2. The Middle Ages450-1450

3. Life was tough…20% of women died during childbirth20% of children died during birth or infancyMen and women would marry as young as 12-14 years old….typically, though, women were 17-18 years old and men were in their late 20s or 30s

4. People were superstitious…

6. Different times…EntertainmentGames and sports, hunting, banquets, jousts and tournamentsFeast days were very important

7. Feast Days in just the month of February: 1st St Brigid and St Ignatius 2nd Candlemas4th St Gilbert 5th St Agatha 9th Purification of St Mary 11th St Frideswide14th St Valentine 16th St Juliana 23rd St Milburga24th St Mathias 28th St Oswald

8. So what does all this mean for music?The Catholic Church was the center of musical lifeMainly vocalThe Church frowned on instruments because of their earlier role in pagan rites.“To what purpose, I pray you, is that terrible blowing of bellows, expressing rather the cracks of thunder than the sweetness of a Voyce.” –St. AethelredOrgans were played on special occaisions…people sometimes complained that the noise was a distraction to worshipers

9. Gregorian Chant!The official music of the Roman Catholic Church for over 1,000 yearsSingle line of music without accompaniment Represents the voice of the Church, rather than any single individualFlexible rhythm with little sense of beat

11. 3 kinds of Gregorian chantSyllabicOne syllable for every noteMary Had a Little LambMelismaticFew syllables over many notesAngels We Have Heard on High “Gloria”NeumaticIn between: one syllable over a few notesAmazing Grace

12. Pope Gregory IAKA: St. Gregory the GreatReorganized the Catholic liturgyAlthough Gregorian chant gets its name from this pope, he is not the sole creator of Gregorian chant

13. How did they learn music?In the early middle ages, music was all passed on by oral tradition.Write down what I say…Is this the most accurate way of doing things?

15. Guido D’ArezzoMonk990-1050 A.D.Invented the concept of music notation similar to how it is done todayFour line staff and clefs

17. Guidonian HandEach hand joint represented a noteTeachers could point to a joint in order to teach monks new chant musicGuido d’Arezzo most likely did not create this method, but it was named after himLet’s try it ourselves…

18. Well that works, but let’s think of something better.Imagine, for a moment, that we never had written music before. How would you create it?Guido came up with the basic music notation systemUt, Re, Mi, Fa, So, LaDoes that look familiar?

19. UtQueantLaxisHymn to St. John the Baptist

20. Here’s an example:Write in the syllables

22. MonophonyWhat does all of this chant have in common?Let’s have a brave volunteer…

23. Congratulations!You’ve just sung monophony!Monophony=Single line of music.Any voice singing or any instrument playing by itself is considered monophonic musicHowever: more than one voice or instrument can perform in unison and still be considered monophonic (Gregorian Chant)Monophony was the main form of music in the early part of the middle ages

24. My favorite piece of monophonic music: