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MAPEH (Music)
Quarter 1 - Module 2:
Secular Music of the
Medieval Period
(700 – 1400)
MAPEH (Music) – Grade 9
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Secular Music of the Medieval Period (700 – 1400)
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

OIC-Schools Division Superintendent: Carleen S. Sedilla CESE
OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent: Dr. Brian E. Ilan

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Christine-An V. Basilio
Editor: Myrna T. Parakikay
Reviewers: Myrna T. Parakikay
Layout Artist: Jobelle M. Partido
Management Team: Angelita S. Jalimao
Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division

Neil Vincent C. Sandoval

EPS in-charge of LRMDS

Myrna T. Parakikay
EPS, MAPEH

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 What I Need to Know

This module was written and designed to make learning easier especially that we are
in the “new normal” situation. As an educational tool, this module about the Secular
Music of the Medieval Period (700 – 1400) challenges you as a learner, to become
creative, resourceful and independent. The scope of this module provides a variety of
activities that will stimulate independent and self - guided learning experiences.
Lessons in this module are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course to
ensure effective learning continuity, make the experience more meaningful, effective
and relevant to life situations.

This module includes lessons and activities on:

• Musical elements of the music of the Medieval Period
• Performance practice (setting, composition, role of composers/ performers, and
audience) during the Medieval Period
• Other art forms and its history within the era specifically Troubadour’s music
• Composing simple songs of the Troubadours.
• Applying neumes to present love songs.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. listens perceptively to selected vocal and instrumental music of Medieval music
2. explains the performance practice (setting, composition, role of composers/
performers, and audience) during the Medieval Period
3. relates Medieval music to other art forms and its history within the era.
4. composes simple hymns based on music of the medieval music
5. evaluates music performance using guided rubrics

What I Know

Classify the pictures below according to type of music in the Medieval period.

a. b. c.

d. e. f.

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 g. h. i.

Sacred Music Secular Music

Lesson Secular Music of the

Medieval Period
1 (700 – 1400)
You have learned from the previous lesson that the Medieval period music is both
sacred and secular. Secular music is the music outside the churches, which had a
continual struggle for power between the Church and the nobility, and the kings and
barons. They use music as a way of increasing the prestige of their courts. Musicians
were hired to entertain the courts and were needed as an accompaniment for dinning,
dancing and tournaments. It is also used to enhance court ceremonies, civic
processions and military campaigns.

What’s In

Let’s check how well you know the musical elements of Sacred Music in the Medieval
Period.
From numbers 1-5, identify the element of a Sacred Music in the Medieval Period.

1. Texture
a. polyphonic
b. monophonic
c. homophonic
d. heterophonic

2. Melody
a. use of modes
b. chromatic
c. dissonant
d. intervallic

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 3. Harmony
a. unison
b. in 3rds
c. in 5ths
d. quartal

4. Forms
a. tertiary
b. binary
c. free form
d. no form

5. Rhythm
a. polyrhythm
b. syncopated
c. regular patterns
d. free flowing

What’s New

Listen closely to this Troubadour Music: “Kalenda Maya” by troubadour: Raimbault de

Vacqueiras: can be sung in vigorous dance-rhythm https://youtu.be/D-YEP3pX4SA

“Kalenda Maya”

“The first of May, but

neither leaf nor flower
nor birdsong can give me
pleasure
till I receive a message from
my love. . . .”

Instruments: Rebab, Flute a bec, Luth medieval, percussion

Reflection:
1. In your own opinion, reading the lyrics of the song, what is the general feel or mood
of the song you’ve heard?
2. How many voices did you hear/ can you see in the picture?
3. Where do you think is this kind of song usually sang or used?

What is It

Secular music during the Medieval period are the songs of the troubadours, trouvères
and minnesingers, written in their own language rather than the Latin of the church.
Typically, they wrote lyrical love songs to the noble ladies of their courts, who were
idealized as beautiful unattainable creatures to whom the troubadour addressed
unrequited sentiments of passion, devotion and respect.

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 They also wrote songs praising Virgin Mary,
celebrating marriages, mourning deaths, and
describing the crusades-songs portraying their
lives.
Some melodies were like plainsong chants of
the syllabic type, others more dancelike. The
troubadours and trouvères tended to favor the
modes with a “major” sound. About 3000
troubadour songs and 1,400 trouvères have
come down to us.

During 12th and 13th centuries many great

songs were composed by the troubadours, the
aristocratic poet- musicians of the southern
France, and trouveres, their counterparts in
the northern. Both are connected with the
modern French word trouver, which means “to
find” – and so troubadour and trouvere were
finders or inventors of poems and melodies.
Most Medieval songs and dances are
monophonic (single-line texture) and the
musical forms were closely related to the poetic
structure, with specific rhythm derived from
the metric system of the verse forms.

The melodies are written down in a way which

gives a clearer idea of pitch, but not of actual
note values. We must guess these from the
natural rhythms of the words. No indication is
given of instruments which may have joined
in, but it is unlikely that these songs were
performed without accompaniment. There
may also have been an instrumental
Sample Music sheet of Troubadors. introduction, and interludes played between
Song: “Kalenda Maya” by: verses. Some of the troubadour songs are
Raimbault de Vacqueiras sung in vigorous dance-rhythm and some
trouvère songs are in a sadder mood.

In dances, the most popular kinds of Medieval dance were the estampie (possibly a
“stamping dance”) and the saltarello (“a jumping dance”). A dance might be played
entirely by one or two instruments; or by a larger group.
Medieval Instruments - instruments which may have joined in the songs and dances

Fiddle
Medieval Lute
Tabor

Medieval Flute
Shawn

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The Main Characteristics of Secular Music of the Medieval Period:

1. Monophonic texture- melodies were like plainsong chants of the syllabic type.

2. Use of modes- tended to favor the modes with a “major” sound.

3. Use of Neumes for notation

4. Texts are written in the vernacular, the ordinary language of the people.

What’s More

Activity 1: Compose and Notate

1. Compose your own love song, with at least 2-4 verses.

2. Notate your song using the neumes above your lyrics.
3. If you have instruments available have fun and accompany your melody using simple
chords with guitar or ukulele.

Composition Grading Rubric

Indicators Fair Good Great Composer Expert Composer

Composer Composer 8 points 10 points
3 points 6 points
1. Notation
used in
song

2. Notes Do-re-mi Do-re-mi-fa Do-re-mi-fa-sol Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la

used
3. Length 1 verse 2 verses 3 verses 4 verses
of song

Questions:

1. What is the general feel or mood of your song?

2. Where do you usually hear this kind of music?
3. When do you use this kind of music?
4. Is the rhythm similar to the love songs we hear today, why?

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 What I Have Learned

What I Can Do

Give the similarities and differences in the characteristics of the Sacred Music and the
Secular Music of the Medieval Period. Use the Venn diagram below. Write and Draw your
answers in your activity notebook.

Sacred Music Secular Music

Similarities

Questions:
1. What are the similarities of Sacred music and Secular music? Does it describe the
characteristics of the musical element of Medieval Period?
2. Where do the Sacred music and Secular music differ?
3. Do you think we have similar kind of music today in our country? Where do you
usually hear it?

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 Assessment

Directions: Read the following questions carefully then Encircle the best answer for
each number.

1. Which of the following statements is NOT a characteristic of Troubadour Music?

a. It is a Plainsong
b. It tells chivalry and courtly love
c. It uses Neumes
d. It is in monophonic texture

2. What popular music during the latter part of the Medieval Period is not bound by the
Catholic tradition?
a. Sacred music c. Secular music
b. instrumental music d. polyphonic music

3. What kind of musical texture is made up of one melodic line?

a. polyphonic b. homophonic c. monophonic d. heterophonic

4. How many Troubadour songs were left to us?

a. About 3,000 songs are left to us
b. As few as 100 songs are left to us.
c. No songs are left.
d. About 1,000 songs left to us

5. Where do Troubadours usually performed their music?

a. Monasteries b. Church c. Cathedrals d. Courts

6. What is the language used in writing songs of the Troubadour?

a. Written in Latin, the official language of the church.
b. Written in the vernacular, the ordinary language of the people.
c. Written in a foreign language they desire.
d. Written in any language.

7. How is Troubadours’ music described?

a. Lyrical loves songs written to praise and worship God.
b. Typically, lyrical love songs written to the noble ladies of the court or songs
portraying various aspects of ordinary life.
c. Lyrical songs based almost entirely on religious subjects.
d. Lyrical songs based on the Liturgy.

8. Which of the following describes the musical form of Troubadour music?

a. It has a Binary form.
b. It has a free-flowing form.
c. It has no strict musical forms
d. It is based on musical forms closely related to the poetic structure of the
verse forms.

9. Which of the following describes the rhythm of Troubadour Music?

a. It has no regular beat or accent and tends to follow the rhythm of the text.
b. It has a strong regulated rhythm with clear cadential points.
c. It has syncopated rhythm.
d. It has an irregular rhythm

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10. Where are the songs or music of the Troubadours usually used?
a. Music is usually used as love songs written to the noble ladies of the court or
songs portraying various aspects of ordinary life.
b. Vocal music is written for the choirs and can be found at all the cathedrals
and monasteries.
c. Instrumental music is used to accompany the religious services in cathedrals
and monasteries.
d. Music became available and popular among the middle class with venues
in concert halls.

Additional Activities

Activity1: Essay: In 3-5 sentences tell something about the statements below.

• On secular music during the Medieval period, musicians were hired to

entertain the courts and were needed as an accompaniment for dining,
dancing and tournaments.
• Describe this music and the need for musicians today in our country.

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Answer Key

I
H
G
C 10. A
A 9. A
8. C
Secular 7. B
6. B
5. D D 5.
F 4. A C 4.
E 3. C A 3.
D 2. C A 2.
B 1. A B 1.
Sacred
Assessment What’s In
What I Know

References

Bennet R. Cambridge Assignments in Music, History of Music. Cambridge

University Press. Cambridge