Introduction to Western Music

Week 1: Intro; Music from Continental Europe in the Middle Ages

Listening & Reading

Lecture 1: Chant and Troubadour Song

• Anonymous, “Agnus Dei” from the Mass for Christmas Day (Agnus Dei)
• Anonymous, “Haec dies” (gradual)
• Thomas Aquinas (text attribution), “Pange lingua gloriosi mysterium” (hymn)
• Hildegard von Bingen, The Play of Virtues, end of scene 1

Recitation 1A (Neff)

• “Dies Irae” (chant) from the Liber Usualis

Recitation 1B (Neff)

• Guirat de Bornelh, “Reis Glorios” (troubadour song)

Recitation 1A (Goetjen)

Recitation 1B (Goetjen)

• Written vs. oral traditions
• Music at court
• Monophonic songs
• Medieval musicians
• Troubadours, trobairitz, and trouvères
• Minnesang 
• Chivalric love—l’amour de loin
• Through-composed, strophic form, bar form
• Bernart de Ventadorn, “Can vei la lauzeta mover”
• Comtessa de Dia, “A chantar m’er de so qu’eu no volria”

Key Terms

Basic Musical Terms Definitions