Medieval Music
Medieval music, spanning roughly from the 5th to the late 15th century, encompasses a rich variety of styles and forms. It primarily includes sacred music, often sung in Latin, composed for religious settings, and secular music, which captured everyday life and emotions. Key developments include the use of notation, allowing composers to write down music, and the emergence of polyphony, where multiple melodies are sung or played simultaneously. Instruments such as lutes, harps, and recorders were common. This era laid the groundwork for later Western music traditions, influencing genres that followed, including Renaissance and Baroque music.
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Medieval music refers to the musical tradition in Europe from roughly the 5th to the late 15th century. It encompasses a range of forms, including chants, folk music, and the early development of polyphony, where multiple independent melodies are sung together. Gregorian chant, characterized by its monophonic and unaccompanied style, was prominent in religious settings. Instruments like the lute and harp were popular in secular music. The period saw the evolution of musical notation, allowing composers to preserve and share their works, laying the foundation for future Western music.