University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Literature and Styles in Music I

Types and Uses of Medieval Instruments

I Typical Uses

A. Distinction between instrumental and vocal parts not always clear: some parts have no text or are more "instrumental" in terms of style (e.g., frequency of "difficult" leaps)

B. Instruments may double voices

C. Instruments may ornament vocal line

D. Instruments may provide accompanying lines

E. Instruments played independently for dancing or ceremonial music

II Categories of Instruments (14th Century)

A. Bas ("Low" or softer): harps, vielles, rebecs, viols, lutes, psalteries, portative organ, flutes, recorders

B. Haut ("High" or louder): trumpets, horns, sackbuts, slide trumpets, cornetts, shawms, rauschpfeife, Krummhorns (later), cornamuse, rackett

C. Miscellaneous percussion: bells, cymbals, kettledrums, miscellaneous drums

III Sound Ideal: Heterogeneous rather than Blended

A. Juxtaposition of contrasting timbres typical

Last Update 6/21/06

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