Basics of Medieval Modes

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Let's talk about the Medieval Modes and how you can use them in your music.
#musictheory #musiccomposer #modes

[@StevenMelin]

Moooooodes! What are your favorite to write in? I’m a big fan of Lydian.

[@SentryWater]

The monks singing temple of time in Zelda is an example of the Dorian as well!

[@serhii-ratz]

Seems like finally I have some light into darkness... but so much things ahead...
Need to watch in one more time... but it is brilliant.

[@Reggiegigas718]

This is hands down the best video I've seen on modes. Well done!

[@DorianRaaberg]

I'm composing for my friends game and this is the most helpful tutorial ive found, thank you very much!

[@StevenMelin]

Great to hear!

[@seba4053]

But in medioeval period there wasn't any kind of real modal harmony, in italy we study Graduale Triplex at conservatory that is a romanian book of gregorian chants. Medioeval period in Europe is a various groups of different styles: religious(gregorian chants-mottets) and non-religious chant (madrigals, dances etc.). Medioeval music is almost monophonic in general or followed by a bass bordone. If a gregorian chant is sang buy more of one musician, all of the musicians sing the same part in unison or octave

[@bethcoombes6516]

Brilliant video, thank you

[@christianpenguin2651]

Coming from the guitar, this gives me another viewpoint to understand modes. Thanks a l ot!

[@ERSHOV]

Very helpful video, thank you

[@usageunit]

Just came here looking for some generic information on modes, but was pleasantly surprised to hear the video game examples! Too bad no Touhou references though.

[@filmecke2618]

Why does this have so small amounts of views this is amazing

[@NathanRech]

what a damn great tutorial! You got a subscriber.

[@StevenMelin]

Thanks so much! This is a vid from my course: www.stevenmelin.com/composition-production-basics

[@luispavlov3078]

New sub

[@KarlBonner1982]

The title theme for FF9 is one of the most beautiful dorian tunes I've ever heard. I'm surprised you didn't use it as an example!

[@geekaydee6303]

you gonna tell them about PYTHAGOREAN tuning? which is kind of the key to hearing the medieval modes imho.

[@lightningspirit2166]

When I play by ear what modes am I using on the diatonic keyboard of a symphony gurdy and how many extra keys sharp, flats,do I need as a minimum so as not to go too far from a diatonic scale eg how many sharp flat keys do I need to add to a diatonic one row symphony keyboard as a minimum?

[@AdamAnderson.Composer]

*Please* do not misconstrue the medieval modes as you have here. What you described are not the medieval modes, but the diatonic modes, or the colloquial “church” modes (which is a misnomer). What are the “medieval” modes are would refer to *Gregorian modes,* of which there are eight (maybe 12).
The actual medieval modes exclusively were in the modern key of C with no sharps or flats (transposition could be done by performers but this was not represented in the sheet music). They consisted of four “authentic modes” which are consistent with the modes we know today. Those were the Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian modes. They each had a “plagal mode” which was named the same with an added “hypo-“ in front of its authentic counterpart. The plagal modes simply extended a fourth (eventually a perfect fifth) below the tonic, as modality wasn’t consistent with the repeating 12-tone system we know today but by the extent of a melody. It is to be noted that the modes Dorian, Hypophrygian, Lydian, and Hypolydian (known more often by numbers I, IV, V, and VI) often flattened B to avoid the perceived instability of its dissonance with F.
Only much later in the 16th century did the aeolian and Ionian modes become amended to this system (along with their plagal counterparts), and throughout the medieval ages the locrian mode was absent entirely.
The confusion is understandable as the modern modes are confusingly called “church modes” by musicians, but to claim such modes were used in medieval times as they are used today is inaccurate.

[@zeenohaquo7970]

Mixolydian. new subscriber here.

[@StevenMelin]

Ha, glad to hear it! Check out the full course here: www.udemy.com/course/film-tv-video-game-music-composition-production/?referralCode=DA35CF723C35444FA4E0

[@wuillymay8815]

Do you play videogames?

[@usa_studio8820]

What song did he play at 3:07?

[@StevenMelin]

Magus Battle from Chrono Trigger! ruclips.net/video/yKca4X3AKR0/видео.html

[@usa_studio8820]

Thank you for responding! I think I'll learn that.