Vocal Music History

Singing Through Time

The human voice is really the

foundation of all music; and whatever
the development of the musical art,
however bold the composer's
combinations, however brilliant the
virtuoso's execution, in the end they
must always return to the standard set
by vocal music.
---Richard Wagner

Medieval Period (500-1450)

Vocal music most important

Simple in nature

First written music

church music
Latin
Offices music sung
at a certain time of day
Plainchant (or chant or
plainsong)
No rhythm or tempo
noted
chant Pater Noster

Chant Pater Noster

Word Wall

Syllabic one note per syllable

Neumatic two or three notes (or neumes)
per syllable
Melismatic four or more notes per syllable
Organum melody with harmony (4th or 5th)
Polyphony two or more vocal parts, equal
importance

Guido dArezzo

Monk
Guidonian Hand
device used to assist singers in learning to
sight sing
each joint or part of the hand represented a
different note
precursor to solfege
Guidos hand

Secular (Pop) Songs

usually about love and

wine
Unaccompanied, triple
meter, no harmony, not
Latin
Troubadors (started
south)
Trouveres (started
north)

Renaissance Period (1450-1600)

Similar to medieval music but more evolved

Secular music flourished because of patrons of
the nobility
Entertainment for amateurs rather than concert
music (ambience!)
Composed for few participants rather than
huge choirs/choruses

Funny Story:
Josquin des Prez composer for the
French king, got tired of waiting for
the raise he had been rpomised so he
wrote a motet called Remember
thy word unto thy servant. When
the king finally paid him, he wrote
another one called Lord thou hast
dealt graciously with thy servant.

Musical Types

Mass music composed for specific parts of

the mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus,
Benedictus, Agnus Dei)
Motet piece of music in several parts with
words (church)
Madrigal piece of music two to eight
voices, usually unaccompanied (secular)
Ave Maria, T.L. Vittoria

Ave Maria, T.L. Vittoria

Meanwhile...

Church music not led by Catholics but by

Protestants as well (Thank-you Henry VIII!)

Chorale - hymn meant to be sung by the

congregation; monophonic then progressed to
four part harmony

Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring, J.S. Bach

Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring, J.S. Bach

Baroque Period (1600-1750)

Instrumental music became as important as

vocal
Opera, usually based on Greek
mythology/tragedy
Vocal chamber music solo recitals, small
ensembles
Elaborate, showy music...very decorated
Monteverdi wrote the first opera: Orfeo (1607)

Funny Story:
Theorist Giovanni Artusi
published a paper claiming that
the new composers were
breaking all the rules and
ignoring centuries of noble
tradition...sound familiar?

Oratorio

Like opera but without movement, sets, and

costumes

Usually a biblical setting

Frequent word painting

Handel Messiah

Messiah

Hallelujah

All We Like Sheep

Classical Period (1750-1810)

Melodies much less decorated, concentrating

on beauty of tone

More chorus stuff in operas

Romantic Period (1810-1910)

Art song really developed

Church music not really the focus anymore

Choral music becomes more important

nationalism, folk music, some symphonies

Beethovens Ninth Symphony

Beethovens Ninth Symphony

Art Songs

Very poetic usually about some sort of

pretty thing (rose, stream, etc.)
Piano and voice
Text and accompaniment closely related
Tried to create a musical scene
Song Cycle group of poems by one poet set
to music
Lied (German) song (pl. lieder)
Schubert & Schumann
Schubert Gretchen Am Spinnrade

Schubert Gretchen Am Spinnrade

Wagners Operas

Leitmotif little tune

Help audience follow along
Character, object, event, emotion
Hunding (character)
Golden Apples (object)
Alberichs Threat (event)
Siegfrieds Anger (emotion)