1.5 Ars nova

Ars nova revolutionized Western music in the 14th century, introducing complex rhythms and new harmonic concepts. This innovative style emerged during a time of social and economic transformation in Europe, reflecting broader cultural shifts towards secularization and intellectual pursuits.

Key figures like Philippe de Vitry and Guillaume de Machaut pioneered ars nova techniques, developing intricate motets and secular songs. The style's impact extended beyond France, influencing Italian trecento music and laying the groundwork for Renaissance musical developments.

Origins of ars nova

• Emerged in the early 14th century as a revolutionary musical style in Western Europe
• Marked a significant shift from the previous era of medieval music, introducing new concepts of rhythm and harmony
• Reflected broader cultural changes during the Late Middle Ages, including increased secularization and intellectual pursuits

Historical context

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• Developed during a period of social and economic transformation in Europe
• Coincided with the growth of urban centers and the rise of a merchant class
• Influenced by the intellectual climate of scholasticism and the emergence of universities
• Occurred against the backdrop of the Hundred Years' War between England and France

Predecessors in music

• Built upon the foundations of Gregorian chant and early polyphony
• Drew inspiration from the Notre Dame school of polyphony (organum and conductus)
• Incorporated elements from troubadour and trouvère traditions of secular monophonic song
• Evolved from the rhythmic modes of the 13th century, particularly those used in motets

Key characteristics

Rhythmic innovations

• Introduced more complex and varied rhythmic patterns
• Developed the concept of tempus perfectum (triple meter) and tempus imperfectum (duple meter)
• Utilized syncopation and cross-rhythms to create intricate musical textures
• Employed isorhythm, a technique of repeating rhythmic patterns in different voices

Harmonic developments

• Expanded the use of consonant intervals beyond perfect fifths and octaves
• Incorporated more frequent use of thirds and sixths, leading to a fuller harmonic sound
• Explored new cadential formulas, including the Landini cadence
• Experimented with chromaticism and musica ficta (accidentals not notated but implied)

Notational advancements

• Developed a more precise system of rhythmic notation
• Introduced black and red notation to indicate different note values
• Utilized mensuration signs to indicate meter and tempo
• Employed coloration to indicate rhythmic alterations within a piece

Major composers

Philippe de Vitry

• French composer, music theorist, and poet (1291-1361)
• Authored the influential treatise "Ars nova notandi"
• Pioneered the use of isorhythm in motets
• Composed numerous motets, including "In arboris/Tuba sacre fidei/Virgo sum"
• Served as Bishop of Meaux and advisor to French royalty

Guillaume de Machaut

• French composer and poet (c. 1300-1377)
• Considered the most important composer of the ars nova period
• Composed in various genres, including motets, mass movements, and secular songs
• Created the first complete setting of the Ordinary of the Mass by a single composer
• Wrote extensively in fixed forms like the ballade, virelai, and rondeau

Ars nova vs ars antiqua

Stylistic differences

• Ars nova embraced more complex rhythms and meters
• Introduced greater harmonic variety and dissonance treatment
• Ars nova compositions featured more independent melodic lines
• Employed more sophisticated notational systems compared to ars antiqua

Philosophical distinctions

• Ars nova emphasized individual expression and innovation
• Reflected a shift towards secularization in music and culture
• Challenged traditional musical conventions and church authority
• Promoted the idea of music as an intellectual and artistic pursuit

Genres and forms

Motet in ars nova

• Evolved from earlier forms of polyphonic sacred music
• Featured multiple text layers, often in different languages
• Employed isorhythm as a structural device
• Expanded to include secular themes and vernacular texts
• Notable examples include Machaut's "Quant en moy/Amour et biauté/Amara valde"

Secular song forms

• Developed fixed forms such as the ballade, virelai, and rondeau
• Incorporated courtly love themes and vernacular poetry
• Featured more complex melodic and rhythmic structures
• Included monophonic and polyphonic settings
• Examples include Machaut's "Douce dame jolie" (virelai) and "Ma fin est mon commencement" (rondeau)

Geographical spread

French ars nova

• Centered in Paris and northern France
• Influenced by the intellectual climate of the University of Paris
• Characterized by complex isorhythmic motets and fixed-form songs
• Key figures included Philippe de Vitry and Guillaume de Machaut

Italian trecento

• Developed parallel to French ars nova in the 14th century
• Focused more on secular music and poetry
• Featured genres such as the madrigal, caccia, and ballata
• Notable composers included Francesco Landini and Jacopo da Bologna

Cultural impact

Influence on secular music

• Elevated the status of secular music in courtly and urban settings
• Contributed to the development of polyphonic secular song forms
• Inspired the creation of instrumental music based on vocal models
• Fostered a new class of professional musicians and composers

Reception by the church

• Initially met with resistance from conservative church authorities
• Pope John XXII issued the bull "Docta sanctorum patrum" criticizing new musical practices
• Gradually gained acceptance in liturgical settings, particularly in the motet genre
• Influenced the development of polyphonic settings of the Mass Ordinary

Legacy of ars nova

Transition to Renaissance

• Laid the groundwork for the musical developments of the 15th century
• Influenced the emergence of the Burgundian School and Franco-Flemish composers
• Contributed to the evolution of contrapuntal techniques and harmonic language
• Shaped the development of musical notation and theoretical concepts

Lasting musical innovations

• Established the importance of individual authorship in Western music
• Introduced rhythmic and harmonic concepts that remain relevant in modern music theory
• Influenced the development of secular vocal music genres throughout history
• Contributed to the separation of sacred and secular musical styles

Notable compositions

Representative works

• Guillaume de Machaut's "Messe de Nostre Dame" (first complete mass cycle)
• Philippe de Vitry's isorhythmic motet "Garrit gallus/In nova fert/Neuma"
• Jacopo da Bologna's madrigal "Non al suo amante"
• Francesco Landini's ballata "Ecco la primavera"

Analysis of key pieces

• Machaut's "Ma fin est mon commencement" demonstrates palindromic structure
• Vitry's "In arboris" showcases complex isorhythmic techniques
• Landini's "Ecco la primavera" exemplifies the Italian ballata form
• Johannes Ciconia's "Le ray au soleyl" blends French and Italian styles

Ars nova in context

Social and political factors

• Reflected the growing importance of secular culture and courtly life
• Coincided with the development of vernacular literature and poetry
• Influenced by the patronage of nobility and wealthy merchants
• Developed against the backdrop of the Black Death and societal upheaval

Artistic developments

• Paralleled advancements in visual arts, particularly in manuscript illumination
• Reflected the growing interest in humanism and individual expression
• Contributed to the development of music as a distinct art form
• Influenced and was influenced by developments in literature and poetry, particularly in the use of fixed forms