What is a specific characteristic of Medieval period sacred music?

Answer 1

Medieval sacred music was performed by choirs, often accompanied by groups of musicians. In many places, such performers were monks and nuns. Clearly, in other places, the performers were simply church goers. The instruments were not yet standardized, and parts were seldom assigned to specific instruments, though they might be assigned to voices designated as male or female. A part might be sung or played, but was often done both ways simultaneously. Instruments were designated according to whether they were to be used in procession or inside the church as outdoor or indoor instruments. There were, for example, positive organs, for indoor use, which were generally not moved around much because they were large, and portative organs, which were carried by the players, and were what you might imagine an Accordion to be if it had pipes instead of reeds. So the music was performed by people gathered in a church or people out on the street in procession

Answer 2

A distinguishing characteristic of sacred music from the Medieval period are smooth melodies sung a cappella with polyphonic texture.