Music in Medieval Society - Essay Example

Music in Medieval Society What were some important characteristics of the social, cultural, and political backgroundof the medieval period? Describe at least three characteristics In the medieval period there was a lot for room for creation and innovation purposes. The period was characterized by significant growth economically, artistically and intellectually. These three factors promoted significant growth in the field of business, institutions and musically. According to Eastwood one of the most significant characteristics was the improvement of regional ties (pp.35). This enabled development of cities and towns.

The towns were centers of trades. The development of towns enabled the development of churches which is another characteristic in the period. The profits from the trade centers were used to develop the first Roman Catholic Church. Institutions were also developed in the medieval period. Universities were developed in major nations like Italy and England. What were some general characteristics of medieval music? Describe at least three characteristics, using appropriate terms from the course readings.

With the development of churches and educational institutions, music became a part of the society. There were study lessons both in churches and schools. There were four major developments in the medieval music. The first characteristic is the development of monophony to polyphony. Polyphonic music was characterized by the movement of melodies in different directions and at different speed (Eastwood, pp.124). The other characteristic of medieval music was the development of motet music. There was also the development of regular metered music.

Metered music provided other forms of melody fitting in the polyphonic category. There was also the development of different rhythmic and pitch notation. What is the piece you have selected? In what ways is that piece representative of medieval music? Describe at least three ways, connecting this answer to your response to the second question. In your analysis of the music, you may also draw on some of the general concepts covered in the first half of this course. The piece selected is the transformation of music from monophony to polyphony type of music.

Polyphonic music represents the medieval type of music in that it has more advanced rhythmic and pitch notation (Eastwood, pp.89). In polyphonic music there is relationship between melody and sound. This is because when making polyphonic music there should be the rhyming between the melody of the music and the words used in the music. Additionally, polyphonic music developed the movement of independent melodies at different speeds to different directions. How did this piece reflect, shape, and/or critique medieval society?

(Begin this paragraph with "This piece reflected [and/or shaped, and/or critiqued] medieval society by . . .") Be sure to draw connections to your answer to the first question. This piece reflected the medieval society by developing musical pieces which were used both in institutions and for career purposes. The development of the polyphonic music made musicians come up with different melodic structures. The melodic structure gave medieval music type more developed characteristics (Eastwood, pp.67). It is also the development of this piece that made churches and school become more music sensitive.

The piece created a positive perception towards churches. In the characteristics of the medieval society, music and development of institutions goes hand in hand. Works cited Eastwood, Kay. Medieval society. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company. 2004. Print.