- One of the most important developments in the history of Western music, was the emergence of polyphony, which occurred in the Middle Ages. Polyphony combines two or more simultaneous melodic lines. With this development, the flexible rhythms of the Gregorian chants disappeared and the use of regular meters increased. This enabled the different voices to stay together.
- Polyphony also created a need for music to be written down more precisely, to indicate both rhythm and pitch. A more exact notation system arose, very similar to the one we use today.
- Leonin was one of the first composers known to us by name. He was very influential in the increased use of polyphony.
The Early Medieval Motet
- Perotin was a composer who studied under Leonin. He expanded on the polyphonic technique by writing for three or four voices.
- A Motet could be sung in two line of Latin or one in Latin and another in French!
- The Motet was in triple meter because, to early Medieval listeners, this symbolized the perfection of the Trinity
