MHST 752 Music of the Middle Ages -- Lecture 4 ...
MUSC 752 Music of the Middle Ages -- Lecture 4: Development of the Christian Liturgy
I. Intro
A. Earliest extant music from Middle Ages Christian church
B. Much of extant music until c. 1300,
C. Why?
1. Expensive to write down music -- especially before paper
2. Few could read and write at all, let alone read and write music
a. Once there is a reason to
b. Doesn't seem to be until c. 800
c. Catholic church develops first need for notation
3. Most people, societies learn music by rote
4. Church has more of a need for replicable results
5. Music forms important part of Christian worship
a. Functional music
b. Arguably, organizing principle for liturgy
D. To understand most medieval music, have to understand context
II. Early Christian liturgy grew out of Judaic worship
A. Christ, all followers Jewish
B. Retained certain parts of worship they knew
1. Chanting of psalms of the Old Testament
2. Alleluia
3. Chanted prayers
a. Voice carries, special power of music
b. Campbell idea of sacred space, language
4. Introductory part of worship = Synaxis
a. Formal greeting
b. Reading of passages of scripture
c. Interspersed with psalms
5. Use of music in service – very important
6.Any of music of Judaic origin?
a. Unknown
b. Possible that some melodies from Alleluia are
c. Formulae for psalm singing possibly from ancient Jewish practice
III. Nothing standardized until conversion of Constantine in 313 AD
A. Most early Christian worship = liturgy of the Eucharist
1. Formalized re-enactment of Last Supper
2. Thanksgiving of this type also part of Judaic worship of the time
3. Singing of psalms, in Jewish manner
B. Christianity becomes legal, worship begins to standardize, expand
C. Constantine has Church of Holy Sepulchre erected
1. Acc'd tradition, encompasses site of crucifixion, burial
2. Main center of Christian worship before 5th c.
3. Report of Egeria, 4th century visitor - describes liturgy, services for Holy Week
D. One early commonality - language
1. First worship in Aramaic and Greek
2. After conversion of Constantine Latin favored
3. Standardization of liturgy at same time Latin becomes "official" language - 6th century
a. Doesn't hurt that the papacy located in Rome
b. And that most early popes were Roman converts
c. In Ancient world, nearly everyone knew
d. Remained only permissible language for Catholic worship until 1962
e. Bible in Latin translation by St. Jerome c. 5th century = Vulgate
IV. Eventually, liturgy split into two parts
A. Mass
1. Also two parts
a. Foremass = introductory prayers, readings from Old and New Testament
b. Canon - includes celebration of the Eucharist
2. Though certain elements established early, no set form until c . 1000
3. One service per day, though can be repeated
4. For all worshippers
B. Office
1. Focuses on chanting of psalms –all 150 in one week
2. Also includes prayers, lessons, readings
3. Many services per day (8)
4. In general, just for clergy
a. Becomes the “Opus Dei” – the “Work” of God of monasteries and convents
5. Pretty much in set form by 5th century
a. see Egeia again for Offices celebrated at Holy Sepulchre
b. Read Matins, Sext, None
6. Will get into specifics later
V. Not that standard
A. Regional variants of prayers, chants developed
B. Mozarabic - Spain and Portugal
C. Ambrosian - Milan, Italy
D. Galician - France and Germany
E. Celtic - Ireland and Scotland
F. Roman -- eventually adopted as standard form of liturgy
G. Though combined with elements of Galician rite thanks to…
VI Charlemagne
A. Responsible for standardization of much of Christian worship service
B. And probably many of the chants
After crowned Holy Roman Emperor, took interest in establishing uniform body of
prayers, chants
1. Sent representatives out to churches and monasteries throughout his empire to
teach “correct” chants (though regional variants still existed)
2. In order to recall these versions, or to transmit them to other establishments,
certain priests and monks derived type of written mnemonic system
a. See p. 77 of text
b. Earliest notation
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