Back to Final Exam Description
M 541
Test 1
26 September 2005
Part 1: Identifications and definitions (30 points total)
A. For the following terms, provide a brief definition and where applicable a musical example. (2 points each; choose 10 of the 12 given)
1) psalmody
2) lauda
3) diastematic neumes
4) Roman de Fauvel
5) clausula
6) prolation
7) polytextual motet
8) Winchester troper
9) Magnus Liber Organi
10) hocket
11) conductus
12) Doxology
B. Identify the following historical figures, giving a brief explanation of what they contributed to the history of medieval music. (2 points each; choose 5 of the 6 given)
1) Petrus de Cruce
2) Hildegard von Bingen
3) Notker Balbulus
4) Anonymous IV
5) Comtessa de Dia
6) Philippe de Vitry
Part 2: Listening examples (30 points total, 10 points per example)
Example 1
1) Identify the composer, approximate date, title, place of origin, and chant (i.e. liturgical movement) of this example. (5 points)
2) What types of polyphony did you hear in this excerpt? (3 points)
3) The text being sung is “no-tum fe-cit do-mi-nus”; in what ways does the composer mark syllable changes? (2 points)
Example 2
1) Is this example from the Mass or from the Office? (2 points)
2) What movement is this, and is it part of the Ordinary or of the Proper? (2 points)
3) What kind of poetry does this movement use, and how is this reflected in the music? (2 points)
4) What style of chant is this? (2 points)
5) What is the text about, and what is its significance within the service? (2 points)
Example 3
1) Identify the composer, approximate date, title, likely place of origin, and genre of this example. (5 points)
2) What is the overall form of this piece? (2 points)
3) What is this piece about? (2 points)
4) To what literary and musical movement does the composer belong? (1 point)
Part 3: Short answers (40 points)
Choose 8 of the 10 questions below. For each, provide a brief answer, consisting of diagrams, musical examples where appropriate, and a few short sentences. (5 points each)
1) Using a brief diagram, show how the liturgical year is organized.
2) List the types of regional chants in use before the Carolingian chant reform.
3) Describe the stages of evolution of early organum prior to the Notre Dame School.
4) Briefly describe the process of troping, including not only its most basic application to chant, but also listing the new kinds of pieces that were added to the liturgy—and to religious observance outside of the liturgy—as a result of troping.
5) Describe in brief the rhythmic advances of the Ars Nova.
6) Briefly discuss the theories surrounding the rhythmic performance of troubadour and trouvére music.
7) What are rhythmic modes and to what repertory do they apply?
8) Briefly describe how isorhythm works.
9) What are the trivium and quadrivium? Briefly list the disciplines covered by each.
10) Briefly describe the modal system.