The Classical Music tradition dates back as far as the Middle Ages (AD 500s). And while many things link the over 1,500 years of Western classical music, one defining feature is the use of formal musical notation (as opposed to folk music which is not usually written down).
The eras of classical music can be broken down into six distinct periods of musical style and instrumentation. We will explore each one period separately over the rest of the year. For July, we will cover the Middle Ages (Medieval) Period.
The Middle Ages (Medieval) Period — AD 500-1400
The Medieval period stretched 900 years. During this period, music was written down, or notated, for the first time in history.
European music and art of the Middle Ages were tied closely to religion, and the main form of music was Gregorian chant, sung by monks during Catholic Mass.
Music during the first half of this 900-year period was monophonic, in that it contained a single melodic line, sung in unison, with no accompanying harmony lines or instrumental accompaniment.
In the second half of this time, polyphonic music (two or more simultaneous, independent, melodic parts) began to develop. This paved the way for what would come for music in the Renaissance Period.
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