The two masters most associated with this style and time period are Leonin and Perotin, both of whom contributed to the yearlong church songbook called the Magnus Liber Organi The Magnus Liber or Magnus Liber Organi contained a repertory of medieval music known as organum in use by the Parisian School of Notre Dame around the turn of the 12th & 13th centuries and is known from references to a "magnum volumen" by Johannes de Garlandia and to a "Ma…Magnus Liber
What did Leonin and Perotin do?
Leonin and Perotin. There is no specific date or documentation that shows exactly when polyphony started being used in the Church, but two French composers, Leonin and his student Perotin, of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, are generally credited with composing the first significant polyphonic church music. Moreover, what is Perotin famous for?
What is the significance of Pérotin's music?
Pérotin's music was carried from this center to all the Western countries, where it was sung and imitated well into the 14th century. Some of the music of Pérotin is available in modern transcription in various publications and also on records. The best account of his achievements is in Donald Jay Grout, A History of Western Music (1960). □
What was Perotinus known for?
He was the first to write three-and four-part compositions and invented numerous musical techniques. Of the life of Pérotin or Perotinus, absolutely nothing is known. For some time it was believed that a number of documents, dating from 1208 to 1238, referred to the composer, but this has recently been shown not to be the case.
What is Leonin known for?
Leonin, sometimes referred to as 'Leoninus,' is thought to have lived from 1150-1201. He is known for being the first composer of polyphonic music that we can identify by name. Leonin's music was generally in two vocal parts.
Why was Perotin important in the development of Western music?
Pérotin ( fl. c. 1200) was a composer associated with the Notre Dame school of polyphony in Paris and the broader ars antiqua musical style of high medieval music. He is credited with developing the polyphonic practices of his predecessor, Léonin, with the introduction of three and four-part harmonies.
Who are the composers of medieval music and what were their contributions to the improvement of music?
In all, Hildegard von Bingen, Leonin, Perotin, and Guillaume de Machaut made significant advancements in music during the mid to late Medieval Period, around 1100 to 1400. Hildegard von Bingen enhanced church music by adding melodic richness through use of many notes and leaps.
Who was Leonin in music?
Léonin (active ca. 1165-1185), or Leoninus, of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, is the earliest known composer of polyphonic art music and the creator of controlled rhythm and meter, as well as of the earliest notation to convey rhythm.
Who were Leonin and Perotin quizlet?
Medieval polyphony that consists of Gregorian chant and one or more additional melodic lines. Leonin and Perotin are the first notable composers known by name. They and their followers are referred to as the school of Notre Dame.
Who are the famous composers of medieval and Renaissance music?
Medieval Composers (500 - 1430)NameBirthNationalityAbelard, Peter1079FrenchAdam de la Halle~1237FrenchBinchois, Gilles~1400FrenchBingen, Hildegard von1098German12 more rows
Who were famous medieval composers?
10 Of The Greatest Medieval Era Composers You Should KnowStephen of Liège.Hildegard of Bingen.Fulbert of Chartres.Peter Abelard.Léonin.Pérotin.Philippe de Vitry.Guillaume de Machaut.More items...•
What is Perotin known for?
Pérotin, Latin Perotinus, (died 1238?, Paris?, France), French composer of sacred polyphonic music, who is believed to have introduced the composition of polyphony in four parts into Western music.
What did Perotin do?
Pérotin (active ca. 1185-1205), of the Notre Dame school in Paris, was the central figure in polyphonic art music during his time and the century thereafter. He was the first to write three-and four-part compositions and invented numerous musical techniques.
Who developed the first Western music notation that included rhythm and specific pitches?
Guido d'ArezzoThe modern Western music notation system developed from a basic notation system designed by an 11th century monk named Guido d'Arezzo, who developed a notation system from neumatic practices that eventually evolved into the system we use today.
Who were Leonin and Perotin?
There is no specific date or documentation that shows exactly when polyphony started being used in the Church, but two French composers, Leonin and his student Perotin, of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, are generally credited with composing the first significant polyphonic church music.
How did composers during the early and mid renaissance link the five different sections of the ordinary so they would all sound related?
How did composers during the early and Mid-Renaissance link the five different sections of the Ordinary so they would all sound related? One common solution was to use a single melody—drawn from a piece of plainchant or even a popular song of the day—woven into all the movements.
What innovation of the school of Notre Dame can be seen in the music?
What was the significance of the rhythmic innovations developed by Notre Dame composers in the late 1100s? Measured rhythm had a clearly defined meter. Rhythm in music began using definite time values. Written notation could now indicate rhythm precisely.
What is the meaning of Leonin and Perotin?
Leonin and Perotin are often seen as representatives of this 'old school' mentality. Their work is seen as a bridge to the Ars Nova, or new school art, which would emerge late in the Medieval Period and lay the foundation for the musical transition to the Renaissance Period.
Who was the first composer to compose polyphonic music?
Leonin, sometimes referred to as 'Leoninus,' is thought to have lived from 1150-1201. He is known for being the first composer of polyphonic music that we can identify by name. Leonin 's music was generally in two vocal parts.
Why is it important to read the notation?
The ability to read the notation became increasingly important as organum developed , and many organum contained discants . The discant occurs when the upper singing parts move together with the same rhythmic mode, like this. In this example from Perotin's arrangement of Sederunt principes, the long, slow original chant is at the bottom, while the duplum, triplum and quadruplum parts above it sing higher notes in the same rhythmic mode. So while the three higher parts have different pitches, their rhythms are the same.
Why did composers add additional vocal parts to what was previously a single line of church chant?
In order to achieve new music while adhering to the Church's strict music rules, both composers added additional vocal parts to what was previously a single line of church chant. Often times, the original chant was sung at an extremely slow pace, while a new, faster melody with more pitches was added at a higher pitch.
How many rhythmic modes did composers use?
So the composers adopted six rhythmic modes, which were fixed rhythmic patterns of long and short notes.
Who wrote the first complete annual cycle of chants for the mass in two parts?
Magnus Liber Organi. In fact, Leonin and Perotin were so good at writing organum that they wrote the first complete annual cycle of chants for the mass in two parts. The music was compiled as a book called the Magnus Liber Organi , or the 'Great Book of Organum.'.
When was polyphony allowed?
So, around the middle of the 12th century, polyphony was allowed. Polyphony is heard when two or more independent melodies are sung or played simultaneously. This makes sense, since 'poly' means 'many,' and 'phony' means 'to sound.'.
Who was Leonin's student?
Perotin, sometimes referred to as ‘Perotinus,’ was Leonin’s student. He is thought to have lived from 1170-1236 and he extended Leonin’s efforts by composing music with three or four vocal parts.
How many parts does Perotin have?
Perotin also used these techniques, but went a step further and composed for three and sometimes four vocal parts. These are called, respectively, organum triplum and organum quadruplum.
How did the modes of the notation help the singing?
The modes allowed the notation to be representative of the singing. Each type of rhythmic note had a particular structure, much like it does today, so even if it still looks a bit squiggly to us, it at least had consistent coding, so they could easily be identified.The ability to read the notation became increasingly important as organum developed, and many organum contained discants. The discant occurs when the upper singing parts move together with the same rhythmic mode, like this. In this example from Perotin’s arrangement of Sederunt principes, the long, slow original chant is at the bottom, while the duplum, triplum and quadruplum parts above it sing higher notes in the same rhythmic mode. So while the three higher parts have different pitches, their rhythms are the same.
What is polyphony in music?
So, around the middle of the 12th century, polyphony was allowed. Polyphony is heard when two or more independent melodies are sung or played simultaneously. This makes sense, since ‘poly’ means ‘many,’ and ‘phon y’ means ‘to sound.’ In polyphony, the pitches and rhythms of each musical part are different from one another, yet they are sung or played at the same time.
Why was polyphony extraordinary?
This new polyphony was extraordinary because it hadn’t been done in church music before, and in medieval thought, anything new had to be founded on something old.
What was the development of polyphonic music?
The development of polyphonic, or multi-part music, was a fundamental part of the late Medieval period, and it forever influenced music thereafter.
Who wrote the Magnus Liber Organi?
In fact, Leonin and Perotin were so good at writing organum that they wrote the first complete annual cycle of chants for the mass in two parts. The music was compiled as a book called the Magnus Liber Organi, or the ‘Great Book of Organum.’ Leonin wrote the original version, and later, Perotin edited and added new ideas afterward. By the end, it sounded something like this.
How many parts does Pérotin have?
Pérotin also composed organa – not only in two parts, but in three and four as well. The added parts are held together by being in the same rhythm. On occasion, they even exchange actual melodic shapes. Thus, three phrases that occur in one voice in the order a b c, might appear at the same time in another voice as b c a, and in a third as cab. This kind of interchange lies at the root of contrapuntal imitation: a device that was to play a very large part in the development of music.
What is the organa of Léonin?
Léonin’s organa are two-part music. He used two main styles of composition. In the first, the plainsong melody is spun out in long notes, with the added part dancing above in a free and often complex manner. In the second, both voices keep the same rhythmic pattern. Both styles can be found in the same work – the one at moments when the plainsong is simple, and the other when it becomes florid.
What did the composers of Notre Dame do?
As music became more complicated, the need for this further information became more and more essential. To cope with the situation the Notre Dame composers began to make use of a system which we now call MODAL RHYTHM.
Who is the best composer of discant?
Contemporary accounts refer to Léonin as ‘the best composer of organum’, but Pérotin is called ‘the best composer of discant’. By this they meant that Pérotin excelled in the composition of the CLAUSULA: a short section of lively, almost dance-like music which is inserted in the statelier progress of organum and was very probably played by instruments only. Pérotin is even thought to have added sections of this kind to the organa that Léonin composed.
Was music composed during the 13th century intended for church use?
It would be quite wrong to suppose that the only worthwhile music composed during the 13th century was intended for church use. The music of popular entertainment must have played an equal if not more important part in daily life, and it too had it glories.
What was the name of the school that pushed sacred music beyond the single line of Gregorian chant into?
The Notre Dame school, a group of composers working in and around the Cathedral between 1160 and 1250, pushed sacred music beyond the single line of Gregorian chant into polyphony— multiple musical voices occurring simultaneously.
Who was the first person to write the Magnus Liber Organi?
Anonymous IV worked at Notre Dame in the 1270s and gave a first hand account of the groundbreaking music created there. He (or she) credits Léonin with the development of the Magnus Liber Organi (in Latin, “Great Book of Organum”).
Who performed Organum Duplum?
Léonin: Organum Duplum, “Viderunt Omnes”. This performance is by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London:
Where did Pérotin work?
Nothing is known of Pérotin’s life, and his identity is not clearly established. He worked probably at the Cathedral of Notre-Damein Paris, and his compositionsare considered to belong to the Notre-Dame, or Parisian, school, of which he and Léoninare the only members known by name.
How many voices does Pérotin have?
In Pérotin’s organa the liturgical chant of the tenor is heard against not one voice but two or three voices that provide highly decorative vocalizations. He is known to have composed two four-part works, “Viderunt” and “Sederunt”; another four-part composition, “Mors,” is believed to be his.
Who used a single rhythmic mode for counterpoint?
Pérotin used a single rhythmic mode for…. counterpoint: Counterpoint in the Middle Ages. Around 1200 Pérotin, composer at Notre Dame in Paris who wrote some of the earliest music in three and four parts, superimposed different rhythmic modes (short fixed rhythmic patterns) in the voice parts.
Who is the composer of sacred polyphonic music?
Pérotin, Latin Perotinus, (died 1238?, Paris?, France), French composer of sacred polyphonic music, who is believed to have introduced the composition of polyphony in four parts into Western music.
What is the name of the school of Western music?
Western music: The Notre-Dame school. A generation later his successor, Pérotin, edited and revised the Magnus Liber, incorporating the rhythmic patterns already well known in secular music and adding more than one part to the cantus firmus (the “given” or preexisting plainsong melody).
What is Pérotin's best account of his achievements?
The best account of his achievements is in Donald Jay Grout, A History of Western Music (1960). □
What was the center of Western culture during the time of Pérotin?
During Pérotin's time Paris became the center of Western culture. The Cathedral of Notre Dame neared completion and with it the Gothic style of architecture its zenith. The various philosophical schools that had grown up around it during the 12th century gave birth to the first general university outside Moorish Spain, where Aristotelian science stimulated a great intellectual debate. Pérotin's music was carried from this center to all the Western countries, where it was sung and imitated well into the 14th century.
What is the life of Pérotin?
Of the life of Pérotin or Perotinus, absolutely nothing is known. For some time it was believed that a number of documents, dating from 1208 to 1238, referred to the composer, but this has recently been shown not to be the case. All we know is his name, the titles of some of his works, and his achievements, which are mentioned in two treatises: one by an eminent philosopher and music theorist, John of Garland, an Englishman who taught at the University of Paris during the second quarter of the 13th century; and the other by an anonymous English student, actually his voluminous class notes taken during the 1270s in Paris. The student informs us that Pérotin "edited" the Magnus liber organi (Great Book of Organa) of his predecessor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, Léonin, by shortening the long sections of these compositions in which a free-flowing melody was laid over a slow-moving cantus firmus, that is, a series of notes taken from preexisting music—here from Gregorian chants of the Mass or the daily prayer hours. On the other hand, Pérotin added many sections, or clausulae, in discant style, where both voices were regulated by rhythmic patterns in strict meter. Of this style, the anonymous writer tells us, Pérotin was the greatest master ( optimus discantor ). Over 500 such discant clausulae are extant, some short ones undoubtedly the work of Léonin and of Pérotin's disciples, but the bulk probably Pérotin's own works.
What is a P e Rotin coda?
There is also a typical P é rotin coda on a prolonged tenor note, with the change to iambic rhythm and descending scale in the added parts. P é rotin set also sacred and perhaps secular Latin verse in the conductus style.