Scarborough Fair

1 Learn the note RE' (sharp), listen and play. Copy the stave in your notebook and circle the signs that prolong the notes.

I'm going to follow this rhythmic increases its duration by half

Musical Culture

CULTURA MUSICAL Music in the Middle Ages

Music in the Middle Ages was expressed in three different areas: in monasteries or cathedrals, in castles or palaces, and in town squares. Monks, troubadours, and minstrels brought music to life during this time.

Music was directly associated with religion and monasteries. They were thought to be centres of knowledge and culture. A monk named Guido D'Arezzo was the first person to name the notes on the scale, based on a hymn for Saint John.

Alfonso X the Wise, King of Castilla y León, was a great patron of music. He was the author of Las Cantigas de Santa María. He surrounded himself with excellent musicians (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) from three different religions.

The Musicians’ Codex, included in the Cantigas, is an excellent example of how the instruments from that time were studied.

Gregorian chant emerged in monasteries. It is monophonic (a single voice) and a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment). To make it more enjoyable, it is sung in various ways: echo (everyone) imitation (various voices) call and response (soloist sings and everyone responds) were very gifted poets that composed their own songs. They usually belonged to the noble class and expressed

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la...

Minstrels led a nomadic life and performed in squares and streets to make a living. They usually accompanied themselves with an instrument while telling stories that entertained those who came to hear them.

Musical Culture

Music in the Renaissance Age

In Europe, during the 15th century, drastic social, cultural, and religious transformations took place. This gave rise to a new era: the Renaissance. There was renewed interest in the splendor of Greek and Roman culture. This period is known as the Golden Age of Spanish music.

Art and beauty awake an incredible interest, as well as the cultural richness contributed by the Greeks and Romans.

Wow! That's amazing!

Thanks to the printing press, the entire population had access to culture. Knowledge ceased to be something exclusive to a small group of people.

In cathedrals, such as the one in Seville, musical chapels formed by singers and instrumentalists emerged. Excellent musicians came from these chapels, such as:

How beautiful!

Art and beauty awake an incredible interest, as well as the cultural richness contributed by the Greeks and Romans.

Musical tastes and the places where music was performed changed. Kings, Queens, and nobles opened the doors of their palaces and residencies to both vocal and instrumental music and dance.

During the Renaissance, women had hardly any opportunities in the field of music. Despite this, there were several who managed to achieve fame.

The dances were very elaborate and spectacular due to the beauty of the music, their carefully crafted choreography, and the elegant clothing worn.

Magdalena Casulana (15441590) was the first woman composer whose work was published. She was also well-known for playing the lute and singing.

Accidentals are musical signs that modify the pitch of a note. Accidentals are written before a note and they affect that note and all following notes of the same quality within the same bar. They can also be written in the key signature at the beginning of the stave. This means that it changes the corresponding note throughout the entire score.

1 Read and learn about accidentals.

The accidentals that form the key signature are placed between the clef and the time signature. They are called the key. The ones that appear throughout the score and only affect the note they accompany are called accidentals.

Raises the pitch of the note.

Cancels the effects of the sharp. Cancels the effects of the flat. Key

Lowers the pitch of the note.

The first time a flat was used was during the Middle Ages in gregorian chant.

2 Rewrite the following musical piece in your notebook using a key signature (at the beginning of the stave) instead of using accidentals.