Since writers during his time did not need to concern themselves with copyright laws or legal suits for authorship, their writings were a mixture of stolen, borrowed, new, and paraphrased works. His music, prose, poetry and general writing display the oddness of Medieval authorship. Audelay was a secular chaplain who retired to a chantry priesthood Haughmond Abbey in Shropshire, England. One of the most interesting characters of this repertoire is John "the blynde" Audelay. This is by far one of my favorite pieces of music of all time.Īnd here is a much older version of Puer Natus Est from the 6th Century: Everything known about Léonin and his successor, Perotin, comes from a music history text written in Paris around 1280 A.D, simply known as "Anonymous 4." One of the most beautiful musical works from this time is, perhaps, the Introït Tropé: Puer NatusEst from Léonin's Christmas Mass. The 'Ars Antiqua' age of polyphonic composition at the Cathedral de Notre Dame in Paris began in the 12th Century and is commonly attributed to a composer known as Léonin. Since it was written for the Advent season, it especially signifies the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth.Įarly Medieval Polyphonic Christmas Music Ambrose trying to convey the equality, and therefore divinity, of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Arianism being the early Christian theory of inequality in the Trinity, as opposed to mainstream churches.) The context of this song evokes a sense of St. His piece, Veni redemptor gentium ("Come, Redeemer of the nations"), was actually written as an anti-Arianist statement. Ambrose of Milan, and it was actually a religious political statement. The earliest Christmas music was likely written in the 4th Century by St. Pre-Carolinginan Christmas Carols (aka, Music before Charlemagne) Here is a short history of Christmas music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Likewise, it is in celebrating the rich history of the music of Christmas that we can appreciate how traditions have changed but the meaning of the holiday has remained. Whether it's music by the Sufjan Stevens or 12th-Century composers from Paris, the music of Christmas has always brought joy, awe, and festivity.
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