University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Literature and Styles in Music I

1. prob. influenced by conductus or secular folk music
2. usually 2 voices
3. 2 or 3 line stanzas with ritornello (sometimes contrasting meter)
4. both voices use same text; upper more ornamented
5. texts usually from idyllic, amatory, pastoral poetry

1. possibly based on Fr. "chace"
2. canon for 2 equal voices at the unison with slower moving, supporting instrumental part
   • occas. with non-canonic refrain
3. text depicts hunt, battle or some other active scene

• prob. influenced by French ballade, but resembles virelai in form (A b b a' A)

1. known as theorist, composer, organist, poet
2. all secular works: ballate ( 90 2-pt. & 50 3-pt.), 12 madrigals, 2 caccia
3. ballate (major genre for Landini)
   • 2-pt. ballate are early works, madrigal-like with ornamented upper voice
   • 3-pt. ballate comparable to French ballade: solo voice with 2 accompanying instrumental parts
   • upper part may also have been played instrumentally in ornamented version
4. Landini's style
   • lyrical melodic line typical of Machaut combined with smoother harmonies
     • harmonies contain few parallel 5ths & octaves; no parallel 2nds and 7ths occas. found in Machaut's style full triads common
   • isorhythm or use of canon infrequent