Which term denotes music of the 14th century?

• A. Bagatelle
• B. Berceuse
• C. Ars Antiqua
• D. Ars Nova

Answer: (D)

Ars Nova denotes the music of the 14th century, signaling a shift to more refined rhythmic notation and greater polyphonic complexity than what came before. The term comes from a medieval concept of a “new art” in contrast with the earlier Ars Antiqua, which describes 12th–13th‑century music. This era brought innovations in how rhythm was measured and notated, enabling more intricate and varied textures, and it’s closely tied to French medieval composers like Machaut and the treatises attributed to Philippe de Vitry. The other terms don’t name a time period for the music: a bagatelle is a light, short piece typical of later classical periods, and a berceuse is a lullaby, neither of which denote 14th‑century style.