Module 2
Place the following sections of the Ordinary in the correct order: Kyrie Eleison Glorida Credo Sanctus Agnus Dei
1 2 3 4 5
Which of the following best describes Hildegard of Bingen's piece, O viridissima Virgo?
A setting of the Proper in honor of the Virgin Mary
Which is the best description of the "motet"?
A type of polyphony that took two-part pieces and added new texts to the upper voices
Which of the following is NOT true about Machaut's poetry?
All of his secular poetry was written in Latin
What is the term for the new musical style that became popular in the 14th century?
Ars nova
How do we know that the anonymous first composers of Western polyphony were educated church clerics?
Because the new music required notation
Early medieval church music, which was primarily passed down as part of an oral tradition, was known by many names - which of the following is NOT one of them?
Chantsong
The following excerpt from Viderunt Omnes features a transition from what section to what section?
Choral respond (a) to soloist verse (b)
Which term describes the practice of setting musical lines against each other - literally "note against note"?
Counterpoint
Match: Divine Office The Mass The Proper The Ordinary
Extended series of services beginning at about 4 AM and continuing at regular intervals throughout the day and evening A complex ritual that was and is the symbolic recreation of Christ's Last Supper with the 12 apostles - the principle worship Parts of a larger worship service that varied based on holidays, feasts, or seasons Parts of a larger worship service that remained constant regardless of time of year
True/False A few centuries after Hildegard of Bingen composed her visionary chants, a radically different type of music - polyphony - was developing.
False
True/False Hildegard of Bingen wrote volumes of work regarding personal theology, expressing little interest in social or ecological issues.
False
True/False Hildegard of Bingen's text in O viridissima virga likens Christ to a fountain of refreshing water in parched lands.
False
True/False In all medieval chants, the musicians sing in unison - having a soloist perform alone was prohibited as a dangerous invitation to pride.
False
True/False In northern France, the troubadours' counterparts were known as Minnesingers.
False
True/False The kithara, a harp-like music, was scorned by Plato as he believed its sound to have a corrupting effect.
False
Which of the following is a probable reason for the loss of most medieval music?
Illiteracy was widespread during the medieval era, so most music was not preserved
Which of the following is the term for a musical instrument made from a tortoise shell with strings stretched across it?
Lyre
Which statement about troubadours is true?
Many troubadours wrote epic poems and composed songs about the Crusades
Listen to the excerpt from Machaut's Puis qu'en oubli sui de vous - what word best describes the way in which the upper voice sings multiple notes on one syllable?
Melisma
Listen to the following excerpt from O virdissima virga and choose the best descriptor of the musical texture.
Monophonic
Which of the following is NOT listed as one of the wide variety of medieval instruments?
Nafers
Which of the following is NOT a similarity between early medieval and Ancient Greek music?
Neither accepted the use of instruments other than the human voice
Which city was the center of a vibrant new style of polyphony during the late 12th and early 13th centuries?
Paris
Which of the following was NOT one of the many roles that Hildegard of Bingen filled in her life?
Pianist
Match: Lute Rebec Shawm Recorder
Plucked, stringed instrument Bowed, stringed instrument Double-reed instrument wind instrument
Listen to the selection from the third section of Leonin's Viderunt omnes - what best describes what the composer does in this section?
Polyphonic
The composer Leonin likely held what position or title?
Priest
Match: Pointed arch Flying buttress Ribbed vault
Redistributed weight so as seemingly to defy gravity Offered external support that allowed for taller buildings Required less structural support, allowing for more stained glass windows
The Greek concept that some intervals are fundamentally pleasing while others are naturally harsh and unstable is known as what?
The distinction between consonance and dissonance
Which instrument was by far the most complex musical instrument available during the medieval era?
The organ
What historical event in the early 1300s contributed to the waning influence of the Catholic Church on many facets of medieval life, including music?
The relocation of the papacy to Avignon in France
True/False A "chanson" is a love song with French text set for one, two, or tree parts.
True
True/False During the medieval era, most recorded music was created for use in the context of the "liturgy" or pattern of text and music used in the worship services of the Catholic Church.
True
True/False French became the preferred language in compositions for motets, which likewise became increasingly secular in tone.
True
True/False Leonin's practice of taking existing musical material and layering his own complementary music against it is a method that has continued to be used by more recent classical and jazz composers of the 19th-21st centuries.
True
True/False Secular medieval music was primarily transmitted by oral tradition or improvised as needed, rather than being written down and preserved.
True
True/False Since authorship was a largely unfamiliar concept, very few names of musicians associated with Gregorian chant have come down to us.
True
True/False The "courtly love" tradition idealized women as "noble damsels"
True
True/False The Greek system of "modes," on which much medieval music is based, is similar to our modern scales in that both consist of a stepwise pattern of pitches that fill out an octave
True
Hildegard of Bingen had a vision of flames descending from heaven, touching her in her monastic cell, and revealing the meaning of scriptures - this experience inspired her to do what?
Write poetry and music explaining what she had learned
