estampie

The earliest reported example of this musical form is the song "Kalenda maya", written by the troubadour Raimbaut de Vaqueiras (1180–1207), possibly to a preexisting melody. 14th century examples include estampies with subtitles such as "Isabella" and "Tre fontane".

Dance material is also included on several pages written in a later hand, with eight pieces numbered, named estampies 'royals' (with slight variations in spelling). Based on spelling within the manuscript, it is believed to be from between 1250 to 1325 from the North Western Provinces of France.

The earliest surviving estampie is the tune to the song, Kalenda maya, with words by the troubadour Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, 1180-1207, set to the melody of an estampida played on vielles (medieval fiddles) by French jongleurs, itinerant entertainers who performed juggling, acrobatics, music, and recitation, at the court ...

Estampie: A "stomping" Medieval instrumental dance that is usually monophonic.

Interestingly enough, much of the musical elements of the medieval period still apply here. Even though we hear several different parts (different melodies), there is only one melody notated on the music. It is the most prominent melody that can be heard, this kind of notation would be monophonic.

Medieval music includes solely vocal music, such as Gregorian chant and choral music (music for a group of singers), solely instrumental music, and music that uses both voices and instruments (typically with the instruments accompanying the voices). Gregorian chant was sung by monks during Catholic Mass.

Monophony: Until the late Medieval period, most Medieval music took the form of monophonic chant. When extra voices were added, they moved in parallel motion to the main voice, unlike the counterpoint that would define the Renaissance and Baroque eras that followed.

a medieval dance and instrumental form, in several repeated sections, associated chiefly with the trouvères.

The "Estampie" meaning "dance" is the first known genre of instrumental music in the medieval era. As can be imagined by the title, the music was probably associated with celebrations and dancing. Interestingly enough, much of the musical elements of the medieval period still apply here.

In musical form the estampie derives from the sequence, a medieval genre of Latin hymn. Like the sequence it has a series of repeated melodic phrases (aa, bb, cc, . . . ); phrase endings in the repetitions are often varied. Estampies are among the earliest surviving examples of written instrumental music.

It is the most prominent melody that can be heard, this kind of notation would be monophonic.

Characteristics of Medieval Music Over Time

• Monophony- music that features a single line of melody and no accompaniment or harmony.
• Development and use of early music notation systems- ''neumes'' above text indicated pitch direction changes and loose rhythms, but not exact pitch as in modern music notation.