Western Art Music (classical music) has its historical roots in Medieval Europe, approximately spanning the years 400-1400 AD. During the early medieval period, music was primarily monophonic, meaning it consisted of a single melodic line without harmonies or accompaniment. An important form of music was Gregorian chant, which developed within Catholic monasteries for use in religious ceremonies and the liturgy. Gregorian Chant was characterized by its solemn, melismatic melodies.
As the Middle Ages progressed, polyphonic music emerged, introducing melodic lines sung or played simultaneously. This development led to the rise of organum, which involved adding a second voice to an existing Gregorian chant. Composers began expanding this practice, adding more voices to create organum duplum and quadruplum. As polyphonic music became more complicated, musical notation began to be defined more precisely.
Music was also practiced outside the church, including secular songs and instrumental music. Troubadours and trouvères, traveling poet-musicians of the era, composed and performed songs often centered around themes of courtly love and chivalry, often accompanied by instruments such as lute, vielle and harp. Instrumental music is less documented, but was an important part of entertainment. Medieval instruments include rebec, psaltery, pipe, shawm, and recorder, among many others.
