What was the Style of Medieval music like?
The Middle Ages cover a long period, and, of course, styles and fashions changed. However, the following facts might help a bit. 1…The scales. The ‘modes’ – scale patterns dating from the ancient Greeks and probably before – were still in use. To get the idea, sit down at a piano and play the scale of C (all white notes). Now, using the same keys, play a scale starting a note up, from D. This is the Dorian mode, and since it homes in on a different note of the scale, has a quite different character. 2…For much of the Middle Ages the harmonies were quite simple. A melody over a drone (as you mention) was one common pattern. As you might guess, bagpipes were popular. Another pattern was for the parts to move parallel to each other, a 5th or a 4th apart. Again, two voices might start in unison, then the upper voice move, one step at a time, away from the tune until they were a 5th apart, then return by step to a unison. With the ‘Ars Nova’ of the 14thC mediaeval music began to approac
