What type of music were found in the churches attended by the populace in the medieval period?

In the medieval period, the type of music predominantly found in churches was chant, particularly Gregorian chant. These were monophonic melodies that were sung in liturgical settings, serving as a vital part of the worship service. Chants were composed without instrumental accompaniment and typically followed a free rhythm, matching the natural flow of the text.

Organum, while an important innovation in the evolution of Western music during the medieval period, refers specifically to an early form of polyphony that developed later, where a second melodic line is added to a pre-existing chant. It was not the primary music in churches during the earlier medieval period, as chants were the mainstay of liturgical music.

Motets emerged later, particularly in the late medieval and Renaissance periods, and involved more complex polyphonic textures. Secular songs also became more prominent in various contexts outside of ecclesiastical settings during the medieval period, often focusing on themes of love, nature, and daily life.

Thus, the predominant type of music in the churches was chant, making it the most representative answer for the music associated with the medieval religious experience.