2. Let’s start at the very
beginning ...
What do YOU already know about Western
Music?
Brainstorm your ideas.
Compare your brainstorm with a neighbour.
How does your knowledge differ?
3. What do YOU think?
List five adjectives to describe Western Art
Music.
Who do you think Western Art Music appeals
to and why?
How has Western Art Music influenced
musicians in the past and today?
Do you agree that Western Art Music has a
place in our community now and in the
future? Why/why not.
4. Timeline
650 1050 1450 1850
Renaissance Classical
Middle Ages Baroque Romantic
450 850 1250 1650 2050
Where would you put the following
words on the timeline?
RENAISSANCE ROMANTIC BAROQUE MIDDLE AGES CLASSICAL
Why?
What do you already know about these
eras?
6. Context
“Life in the Middle Ages”
Church was central to Medieval life
division between social classes : nobles/
peasants/clergy
one Hundred years war and the plague (mid
1300’s)
Monastry monopolised education
7. Musical characteristics
Listen to the following musical extracts:
“O Successors” - Hildegard of Bingen
Describe what you hear in the following
musical elements:
1. MELODY
2.TEXTURE
3.STRUCTURE
8. Elements
Vocal music (church SECULAR MUSIC
frowned upon
instruments - seen as music outside the
church
pagan).
instrumental - pipes,
GREGORIAN CHANT fiddles, drums.
flexible rhythm love songs and dances
melody moves by step Monophonic - later
homophonic
church modes used
9. Your Turn
Compose a single melody line
for the words “Alleluia”. Use a
church mode of your choice.
Think about the characteristics
of Gregorian Chant.
11. Context
A rebirth of human creativity
Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Shakespeare.
Catholic church was far less powerful -
church didn’t monopolise learning and
education became a status symbol.
Invention of printing
12. Characteristics
Listen to the following musical extracts:
“Pope Marcellus” Mass - Palestrina
Describe what you hear in the following
musical elements:
1. MELODY
2.TEXTURE
3.STRUCTURE
13. Characteristics
Listen to the following musical extracts:
“Now is the month of Maying” - Thomas Morley
Describe what you hear in the following
musical elements:
1. MELODY
2.TEXTURE
3.STRUCTURE
14. Elements
Vocal music still melodies easy to sing
important - close with a few leaps
relationship between
words and music SECULAR MUSIC
mainly polyphonic vocal music became
with imitation common popular
between parts
solo voices or voice
bass register used with accompaniment
gentle flowing Madrigal: combination
rhythm of homophonic and
polyphonic texture
16. Context
Baroque = action, movement, bizarre,
flamboyant, elaborate
European rulers surrounded themselves in
luxury while the rest of the population
struggled to survive.
Religious institutions shaped the Baroque
style, using theatrical and emotional qualities
of art to make worship attractive.
Scientific advances and inventions.
17. Music in Society
Music written to meet specific demands that
came from the church and courts.
The size of the musical staff depended on a
courts’ wealth. Music directors supervised
Church music was grand (organ, choir
18. Characteristics
Listen to the following musical extracts:
“La Primavera” from the Four Seasons - Vivaldi
Describe what you hear in the following
musical elements:
1. MELODY
2.TEXTURE
3.STRUCTURE
19. ELEMENTS
Expresses one basic Mainly polyphonic as
mood 2 or more melodic
lines compete for the
Continuous rhythms. listeners attention.
Repetition. Provides
drive and energy Emphasis on chords
and Basso Continuo
Melodic ideas
repeated at different Music depicted the
pitches. EXPANSION meaning of certain
words
Terraced dynamics or
a constant volume.
21. Context
New style of architecture, literature, art.
Newton’s philosophies in science = clarity in
structure (reflected throughout society)
Changes in social structure meant that
nobility was the main supporter of music.
The availability and quality of musicians
altered - simple parts / limited rehearsal
time.
22. Characteristics
Listen to the following musical extracts:
Haydn, Symphony No. 4 in G Major (1791)
Beethoven, Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13 (1798)
Describe what you hear in the following
musical elements:
1. MELODY
2.TEXTURE
3.STRUCTURE
23. Elements
contrasting mood and tuneful melodies that
variety were emphasised are easy to remember.
in music.
Balance and symmetry
Greater emotional range. important in melodic
phrases.
flexible rhythm: pauses,
syncopations, and widespread use of
changes from long to gradual dynamic changes.
short notes.
usually homophonic
24. Trends
End of figured bass Chamber music: imitate
the setting of a room. 2 to 9
The Classical Orchestra musicians (string quartet
(standardised) important)
compositions consisted Concerto: three movement
of four movements work for an instrumental
(symphonies, quartets, soloist and orchestra.
some sonatas).
Haydn, Beethoven,
The Classical symphony: Mozart.
extended composition (over 20
minutes). Covers a wide range
of tone colour and dynamics
in 4 movements
25. Mix ‘n’ Match
Place each musical
form in a suitable
muscial era.
Choose from:
Medieval
Renaissance
Baroque
Classical
26. Great Classical
Composers
What words can you think of to associate
with the following people:
Joseph Haydn
Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Read through the fact sheets and decide on
5 important ideas, facts, or works that best
represent each person. Put them into your
DW’s.
28. Context
The romantic movement stressed emotion, individuality
and imagination.
Writers were drawn towards fantasy and rebelled against
time-honored conventions of their elders.
Romanticism coincided with the industrial revolution
which caused many social and economic changes.
Nationalism was an important political movement that
influenced music.
Composers became ‘free artists’.
29. Characteristics
Listen to the following musical extracts:
Chopin, Nocturne in Eb Major, Op. 9, No. 2 (1830-1831)
Describe what you hear in the following
musical elements:
1. MELODY
2.TEXTURE
3.STRUCTURE
30. Elements
individuality of style - Expressive tone colour
music that reflected the (advances in technology)
composers personalities.
colourful new harmonies -
Subjects of nature popular. chromatic chords and
dissonance.
Melancholy, rapture,
longing, intimacy, romantic rapid modulation and a
love, and fantasy are some wide variety of keys.
of the many emotions
covered in romantic music. Expanded range of
dynamic, pitch and tempo
Program music.
tiny and HUGE musical
works.
31. Trends
Art song - strophic form (repeated musical
material for each verse) OR through
composed (different musical material)
Program music
Lots of composers!
The Russian five
