Dan South Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Perhaps the most fascinating era of European music history started in about the Twelfth Century when composers started to experiment with polyphonic music. Common intervals and voicings seem obvious to us today, because we've heard and played them throughout our lives. But composers who were used to a monophonic (chant) world, had to put a lot of thought and energy into coming up with ways to combine voices for the best effect. Music today is based on thirds, but for a while, fourths were harmonic interval of choice. The advent of counterpoint and imitative forms like the canon and ricercare is equally fascinating, and some of the early Renaissance and pre-Renaissance choral music is stunning in its beauty and complexity. Do a Google search for "Music Palestrina" or "Music Josquin" for more information. Amazon has some downloadable excepts of works from both composers. The Black Knight always triumphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_dup3 Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Well, the Bulgarian choirs have been mentioned so that's pointless...I'll add to Dan S.'s comments, though... If one looks at a timeline of harmonic development it is strickingly similar to what we find when learning today: first unisons/monophony. then 5ths/4ths (the same intervals inverted); it wasn't til about the 15th or 6th C. that thirds were "legal" in schooled music. Early European music that we know of is much different than today's music but that's partly because the preserved music we have is what was officially sanctioned. Folk forms were much less strict & actually led to a lot of what developed over time in the art world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryst Posted February 14, 2005 Author Share Posted February 14, 2005 JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!! All I was looking for was some simple gregorian chant music but instead I got a whole history lesson and references to shit I've never heard of before. Thanks guys! .....No, really......THANKS GUYS!!!! www.myspace.com/apocrypha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Yeah, I love all the early polyphonic stuff when there weren't any "rules" yet. That's what I love about the Russian Orthodox chants... they used seconds and all sorts of weird shit. They "didn't know any better." That stuff rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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