- Developed in southwestern France in the 11th and 12th centuries.
- Performed by troubadours, who were professional musicians and poets.
- Usually consisted of a single singer accompanying themselves on a stringed instrument like a lute or vielle.
- Texts were primarily secular and focused on courtly love, politics, and social commentary.
- Music was characterized by its intricate melodies and complex rhythms.
Gregorian chant
- Originated from the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages.
- Used to accompany Catholic liturgical services.
- Typically sung in Latin with simple melodies that often featured repeated formulas.
- Texts were mostly sacred and included chants like hymns, psalms, and sequences.
- Chant focused on maintaining a uniform rhythm and a somber tone in the music.