Polyphonic genres, in which multiple independent melodic lines are performed simultaneously, began to develop during the high medieval era, becoming prevalent by the later 13th and early 14th century. During the earlier medieval period, liturgical music was monophonic chant Gregorian chant became the dominant style. Liturgical as well as more general sacred contexts were important, but secular types emerged as well, including love songs and dances.

Medieval music was created for a number of different uses and contexts, resulting in different music genres. The medieval period saw the creation and adaptation of systems of music notation which enabled creators to document and transmit musical ideas more easily, although notation coexisted with and complemented oral tradition.įurther information: Gregorian chant, Ars nova, Organum, Motet, Madrigal (Trecento), Canon (music), and Ballata Other music used only instruments or both voices and instruments (typically with the instruments accompanying the voices). Much medieval music is purely vocal music, such as Gregorian chant.

Medieval music includes liturgical music used for the church, other sacred music, and secular or non-religious music. Following the traditional division of the Middle Ages, medieval music can be divided into Early (500–1150), High (1000–1300), and Late (1300–1400) medieval music. It is the first and longest major era of Western classical music and followed by the Renaissance music the two eras comprise what musicologists generally term as early music, preceding the common practice period. Medieval music encompasses the sacred and secular music of Western Europe during the Middle Ages, from approximately the 6th to 15th centuries.

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