Music Time Periods: Medieval Era

Medieval Era: Sounds of the Time Period

Gregorian chant and other types of Medieval vocal music are easily recognizable.  Harmony as we know it today did not exist during this time period, nor did the musical ensembles we are familiar with today such as the orchestra.  Most surviving sacred works from this time period were created for use during church services, specifically the Catholic Mass.   It was during the Medieval era that the mass form was created.    Below, you can see an example of what written music looked like during the Medieval era.

Salve Regina

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) does have manuscripts that have survived. Some of them include:

  • "Canticles of Ecstasy"
  • "Voices of Blood"
  • "A Feather on the Breath of God"

Headphones IconListen to the following example:

Guillaume de Machaut’s (1300-1377) works include:

  • "Le Remède de Fortune"
  • "Le Voir Dit"
  • "Messe de Notre Dame"

Headphones IconListen to the following example:

Next: Page arrow-next