What was the significance of the Notre Dame School?
The Notre Dame School, active during the 12th and early 13th centuries, was significant for its pioneering contributions to the development of early polyphony in Western music. Centered around the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, it introduced innovative musical techniques, such as organum, which involved adding melodic lines above a plainchant. Composers like Léonin and Pérotin, associated with this school, pushed the boundaries of musical complexity, laying the groundwork for the evolution of Western music. Their work marked a shift from monophonic to polyphonic music, influencing future musical developments for centuries.