medieval music notation

Modal Notation

6 sessions
Online

Course Description

Towards the end of the twelfth century a composer known as Leoninus, a clergy member of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, created a whole cycle of polyphonic settings (organum) for chants of the Mass and Office which was eventually called the Magnus liber organi. Thanks to his successor Perotinus, this repertoire was progressively enlarged to the extent that its four extant manuscripts include not only organa, but also clausulae, conducti and motets. This music was characterized by the use of certain rhythmic patterns called ‘modes’, which led to the development of one specific type of script: Modal Notation. For the first time in the medieval West, it was possible to record rhythmic durations. The new notation prompted the creation of progressively more complex polyphonic compositions. In practical terms, Modal Notation is the key to the vast repertoire of music associated with what is now known as the School of Notre Dame.

In this course, students will:

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Study the different genres, manuscripts, and theoretical treatises that record the theory and practice of Modal Notation

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Apply the principals of Modal Notation to actual polyphonic compositions of the era

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Transcribe polyphonic pieces of the repertoire

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Sight-read and perform different compositions directly from the original sources

Raul LacillaInstructor:
Raúl Lacilla

COURSE INFO

DATES & DURATION

September 15, 2025 to January 12, 2026
6 sessions

Location

Online

Price 1.5 credits

1.5 credit ECTS: 350€

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Languages

English - Spanish

Prerequisites

Student must have basic musical knowledge and be able to read modern music notation.

Syllabus

Session 1 | Getting started – The Ligature Patterns

Session 2 | Fractio modi – The clausula

Session 3Cum littera vs. sine littera – The motet

Session 4 | Cum cauda vs. sine cauda – The conductus

Session 5 | Organum purum vs. discantus – Notre-Dame organum

Session 6Longa et brevis – The Twilight of Modal Notation

Teaching Methodology

This course will be comprised of:

    • 6 tutorial videos of 20-35 minutes each (total 3.5 hours).
    • 6 recorded lectures of 45 minute each (total 4.5 hours).
    • 3 biweekly live Q&A sessions of 1 hour and 15 minutes each (total 3.5 hours). These sessions will also be recorded so that students can access them at any time.
    • Downloadable material and links to additional resources.

Schedules and assignments:

    • The course is self-paced.
    • The majority of pre-recorded video lessons, lectures, and study materials will be posted on the first day of the term.
    • Students will have access to all session and their materials until the last day of the term.
    • The student workload to review the materials and complete the assignments is approximately 6.25 hours per session.
    • There will be some suggested deadlines to submit assignments.
    • Homework will be accepted until a week before the end of the term.
    • Students taking the course for credit must complete all assignments and class requirements.

Technical Requirements

    • Broadband Internet connection / WIFI

    • External or internal webcam
    • External or internal microphone
    • Speakers or headphones
    • Possibility of printing downloaded materials
    • Possibility of scanning your assignments
    • Possibility of auto-recording (audio and video)

Enroll Now

Places are limited for each section, so sign up early.

The Medieval Music Besalú offers singers and instrumentalists the opportunity to study monophonic and polyphonic music composed between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Can I take courses for university credit without enrolling in the full specialist certificate program?

Yes, courses can be taken for credit individually without having to enroll in the full certificate program. You can transfer the credits later on should you decide to enter the full specialist certificate program.

How many credits do I have to take in the university specialist certificate program?

For the University Specialist Certificate on the Research and Performance of Medieval Music you will have to take a mixture of required (8 credits) and elective (7.5 credits) courses. Tuition is 3,900€ for the 15.5 credits.

What is the duration of the specialist program?

The certificate has to be completed within our “school year”, a nine-month period that spans between September of every year to June of the following year (example September 2022 – June 2023). For people enrolled in the program, the courses are open throughout this entire period.

Can I take courses for individual credit and then transfer them to the specialist certificate later on?

If you are not sure about enrolling in the program or you require more time, you have the option to take the courses over more than one year. However, you will have to pay the individual course credit fee (non-program). Then when you are ready to go for the specialist certificate, you will have to register in the University Specialist Certificate program. At this point you will pay the prorated program fee for the remainder of the credits you have not taken yet. (For example, if you have taken 10 credits singly, and then decide to go for the certificate, you would pay for 5.5 more credits at the discounted program rate.) Basically, any courses taken for credit through us will be transferable to the 15.5-credit specialist certificate once you enroll in the program.

Is it better to start by just taking some separate credits before joining the Specialist program?

Our recommendation is that students first take individual courses to get a taste of our program and to see the level of demand. This will also help you to figure out what is the best self-pacing for the type of work required. After you have taken some courses, then register to the Specialist program to validate your credits and earn the full degree.

After taking credits and joining the Specialist program, is there any extra work required to earn the degree?

Yes, if you are validating more than 6 credits, the university requires that you also produce some extra work. This work will be discussed between the student and the director of the program and it can be composed of research work or the creation of an essay, a full concert program proposal, or concert program notes on a specific subject.

If I have taken courses for non-credit at MMB in the past, can they be applied to the specialist certificate now?

Courses that we have offered in the past (pre-Spring 2021 only) without credit cannot be validated as credit through the University as per their rules. However, if you have already taken some required classes for non-credit, you can substitute it with another elective class as a one-time exception.

How do I pay for the University Specialist Certification Program or credit courses?

Payment for credit courses or the Specialist Certificate will be conducted directly through the University. 

Are there discounts for credit courses if I take more than one?

The tuition package for the specialist certificate already is reduced by 15% compared to if you take the 15 credits individually.

No discounts are available if you take the courses for credit individually (without being enrolled in the program.)

Can I take any course at any time?

No, only a handful of courses are available each semester. Please see the Course Schedule to see which courses are available.

Are the courses easy or difficult?

All courses are university-level courses and require a good amount of work from the student. In case of difficulty, the instructors are available to help participants resolve doubts and complete assignments.

How many single courses should I take in a term?

Due to the amount of work required, we recommend that students take only one course during their first term, and then one-three courses maximum during the following terms (four months terms).

How much knowledge of medieval music is necessary to take a MMB course?

Previous knowledge of medieval music is not necessary. What is required is to possess knowledge of modern music notation and basic music theory.

Do I need to audition to take any of the voice or musical instrument courses?

An audition recording is required to enter the medieval singing courses.
Musical instrument courses do not require audition. However, depending on the case, for these courses an audition recording might be requested in order to place you in the correct level course. 

How much work needs to be done in order to successfully complete a course and receive its credit(s)?

In order to successfully complete a course and receive the credit(s), participants must  submit all exercises and get them approved by the instructor. 

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