13. Secular Music in the Middle Ages

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13. Secular Music in the Middle Ages

• Medieval Minstrels
• Wandering minstrels
• Men Goliards, jongleurs
• Women trobairitz, jongleuresses
• Aristocratic artists
• France troubadours (south) and trouvères
  (north)
• Germany Minnesingers
• Secular music in courts
• Secular music in cities
• Idealized love and chivalry
• Secular songs sung monophonically, with
  improvised accompaniment

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Raimbaut de Vaqueiras and the Trouvère Tradition

• Southern French secular composer (c.1155-1207)
• Musician at the court of the marquis of
  Montferrat (northwest Italy)
• Knighted for bravery in battle
• Joined in the Fourth Crusade to the Holy Land
• Probably died in battle alongside his patron

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Raimbaut de Vaqueiras Kalenda maya

• Late-13th-century estampie (troubadour dance
  song)
• Set to a strophic poem
• Instrumental portion performed on rebec, pipe,
  guitar, nakers, hand drum
• Middle Eastern influence evident in the work
• Improvisation
• instruments

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Guillaume de Machaut (c. 13001377)

• French composer
• Premier composer of Ars nova
• Cleric and courtier
• Motets, chansons, polyphonic Mass Ordinary
• Poet
• Fixed text forms rondeau, ballade, virelai

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Early Instrumental Music
Vielle
Mandolin
Lute
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Early Instrumental Music
Dulcimer
Psaltery
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Medieval Organs

• Large instruments
• Small instruments (portative, positive)
• Use of authentic instruments in recordings

Bach Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring