Medieval music
A historically grounded medieval-music entry focused on the surviving European sacred and courtly repertories, with examples chosen from verified artist and recording pages.
Origins and context
Documented medieval repertories come from Christian liturgical settings and secular courtly traditions in medieval Europe; surviving sources emphasize chant, early polyphony, and later notated art music. (archive.ph)
The sound
Instrument palette
The voices and tools most associated with this sound.
- Lute
- Harp
- Recorder
- Rebec
- Shawm
History
Medieval music refers to the music of Europe in roughly the Middle Ages, spanning from the early post-Roman centuries to the late 15th century. In the surviving written record, early sacred repertories such as Gregorian chant stand at the center, and later medieval practice expands into richer polyphony; Britannica notes that Gregorian chant also fed much of the polyphonic music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. (archive.ph) The story of the genre is really a story of notation, institutions, and practice becoming more visible over time. As courtly and liturgical traditions developed, composers such as Hildegard von Bingen and Guillaume de Machaut became key figures in the documented repertory, while instruments associated with the era include the lute, harp, recorder, rebec, shawm, and related types.
Notable artists
- HVHildegard von Bingen
- GDGuillaume de Machaut
- PPérotin
Essential listening
- 1
Hildegard von Bingen
- 2
Guillaume de Machaut
- 3
- 4
Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- Vocal music | Britannica
- Music History from Primary Sources | Library of Congress
- Musical Instruments in the Metropolitan Museum
- Spotify
Spotify artist pages and recordings exist for Hildegard von Bingen and Guillaume de Machaut, supporting their use as example artists and recordings.
- Spotify
Spotify recording pages exist for Hildegard von Bingen's 'O frondens virga' and Machaut's 'Messe de Notre Dame: I. Kyrie'.
- Spotify
A Spotify release exists for the Llibre vermell de Montserrat repertory.