KS3 Western Music[1]

Home , Secular music

KS3 Spine 3. Baroque music (1600-1750): Western Classical Music - Snapshot This period saw the creation of tonality as we know it today, where an arrangement of pitches are all based around one central pitch, called the tonic. The main scales were the major scale and the 2. Renaissance music (1400-1600): minor scale. 1. Medieval music (500-1400): Sacred music was still dominant and the church Contrast was an important feature of the music, with texture and The two main types of music in this period had a large influence over composers and dynamics being used to dramatically change between quiet and were sacred and secular. music that was composed. loud.

• Sacred music was performed in the Composers began to write music with more Ornamentation was used frequently, in order to decorate church as part of a religious service, complex textures (layers of music), and changes melodies. There were different types of ornaments, such as: usually a mass. in texture were more frequent. •Trill - a constant rapid alternation between two adjacent notes. •Mordent - a singular rapid alternation between a note and the • Secular music was non-religious music. Madrigals were a common form of secular note directly above or below it. This type of music was often songs written music. These were songs written for multiple •Turn - a type of ornament where the melody revolves around the to poems, accompanied by a lute/lyre. voices and were polyphonic (multiple melody written note using both the note above and below the written lines being played at the same time). note. Music that was documented was hand written. Vocal chants, or Gregorian chants, Notable composers: Dufay, Josquin des Prez, Opera became a more popular musical form, which is a form of were common and there was limited use Palestrina, Monteverdi. theatre that was entirely sung. of harmony because chords as we know them today were yet to be used. There Common instruments: harpsichord, violin, cello, recorder, organ, was also a limited amount of instruments oboe and natural trumpet (trumpet without valves). because many had not been invented yet. Composers of the time were not free to compose what they liked The major and minor scale were not because they were paid by either a political or religious institution established as we know them today and, who directed the composers what they should compose. instead, a lot of music was based around modes. Notable composers: J S Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Purcell, Pachelbel. Notable composers: Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut, © September 2018 PiXL Spine Strategy and templates: The PiXL Club Ltd. All rights reserved. Music KS3 History Of Western Classical Music

5. Romantic music (1780-1910): 4. Classical music (1750-1820): The romantic period was very expressive, The classical period was a return to simplifying music with a wide range of dynamics being used. By with a sense of balance and symmetry. this stage, the church was not as influential Activities on composers as they once were. Music was Recap quiz The orchestra was developed as more instruments instead influenced more by poetry, art, drama were invented, such as the clarinet. A larger orchestra and folklore. led to the need for a conductor to direct the 1. What is secular music? ensemble. 2. Name three types of ornamentation. There was an increased use of dissonance (a 3. In which period was the clarinet invented? combination of sounds that creates tension) The symphony is a multi-movement extended as composers continued to explore harmony. composition for orchestra and was an extremely State which musical period these instruments belong to: popular musical form. It was developed from Musical phrases were often longer and containing three different movements to having four. • Lyre irregular as there was a greater emphasis on • Recorder melody writing. The concerto was another popular musical form, • Piano where a solo instrument would be accompanied by • Harpsichord New musical forms emerged such as: • Saxophone an orchestra. •Lied – a song with piano accompaniment •Nocturne – a piece written for solo piano Composers continued to be on the payroll of the In which period were these musical forms popular? wealthy. • Madrigal The orchestra continued to grow as more • Opera instruments were invented, such as the • Lied Notable composers: Mozart, Haydn, Hummel, (early) xylophone, celeste, bass clarinet, tuba and Beethoven. • Gregorian chant more. This gave composers a wider range of • Symphony expressive sounds to draw from.