What were the themes of medieval music?

Question

Just thought about it one day and i looked it up and strangely couldn't find anything..

Answer 1

Medieval Music fell into two sorts. There was church music. Originally this was just Gregorian Chant, but gradualyy composers began to write there own, unaccompanied masses etc. The first 'composed' mass known is the Mass of Notre Dame by Guillame de Machaut written in the 12th century. Of course, most of this music was written to be sung by men and boys only. However, there was a famous female composer Abbess Hildegard of Bingen who also lived in the 12th century whose music has become very popular in recent years and can be found on CD. There are also collections of religious songs which would be sung by pilgrims, nost famously on the way to the shrine at Compostela in Spain.

Secular music was written by Troubadours and Trouveres, all part of the the 'courtly love' ethos of the times. These would be about love. The peasants had there own rougher songs and dances. The famous 'Carmina Burana' by the 20th century German composer, Carl Orff, is based on a medieval collection of songs under that name. Some are quite bawdy, but the songs were collected by monks and that collection found in a monastery.

Answer 2

Medieval Theme Music

Answer 3

It kind of depends on what part of the world you are talking about. Also, if talking about Europe, there are different songs for different places, with some overlap, the maid saved from the gallows would be an example of a song that was known in England, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe. Some English examples of music sung by the common folk would be Judas {considered the oldest Child Ballad, dating from around the 1200's, The Devil's Nine Questions, { a manuscript at Oxford University from around 1450 mentions this song} where the devil comes to a woman and demands that she answers nine tough questions, and if she can't answer them, then she belongs to the devil, and not to God. The woman answers his questions and is free to go}. The world at this time was a very rough place, and the music reflected this reality. A lot of the old ballads are very gory and violent. Also, common elements of old English ballads were supernatural and superstitious elements, such as in Tam Lin {check out Annias Mitchell's recording of this song.} as well as Lady Gay, and Sweet William and Lady Margaret just to name a few. There were different types of singing besides ballads. Check out "Sumer Is Icumen In" It dates from around the 1200's, and is in a style of singing called polyphony. Perhaps the most iconic kind of music from the medieval time frame is Gregorian Chant or what monks would sing in monasteries. There is also Byzantine Chant. To be honest, I know that some Byzantine Chants are in Greek, but I'm not sure if they all were, but I do know that most if not perhaps all the Gregorian Chants are in Latin. In both cases, the Chants were sung in worship to God. Some examples of Gregorian Chant is Libera Me, Dies Irae, among literally hundreds of others. I hope this helps and have a great night!

Answer 4

Most european music in medieval times were either religious themes or ballads, describing feats of historical intrest, love and romance, or tragedy. With few who could read, the passing of stories, history and entertainment was often in ballads. There were also works more along the lines of what we today think of as classical, or symphonic, but that wasn't very available to the populations at large, limited to those affuent enough to afford the sponsorship of the musicians and composers.

Answer 5

much of the orchestral stuff doesn't hae so much a theme but kinda does. Medieval stuff may not be orchestral. Im thinking bards and such. Love is always popular, romantic tales. Things about heroes and that sort. I must imagine the individual bards would have much to say about everyday life. Everyone like to freestyle and talk about what's happening. When we got arrested at 16 a friend wrote a song about it and personal funny stuff like that. Also stories are passed down through folk music. We have songs about 9/11 and Bush, even Condi, these fall out of fashion ery quickly these days.

you might sing about the black death, in fact ring around the rosie is about the plague, pocket full of posies (to cover the stench of death), ashes to ashes we ALL fall down. Very chilling to think of children at this time singing this. This is later though too well after the renaissance.

Answer 6

That period had more than just Gregorian and church music. The harp (hand held sizes) and lyre and flute and many percusion instruments (drums, tamborines, etc) were played, but themes? Since little was written down other than Church music, have no idea. But I know that in a world of hardship the tunes were like to be merry. And perhaps a bit edgy compared to Chants.

Answer 7

The below link might be what you were searching for. Medieval music had many different themes, much like today. Love, war, battles, duels, the harvest, what to do when you're drunk, and quite a bit of religion as well.

Answer 8

Medieval music is just Gregorian chants, one-voice, and very religious. Dissonance was the sound of the devil, no Pink Floyd, no Baroque, and hymns were important. I guess there aren't really any themes because it wasn't that important at the time and was seen as a sign of the devil.