MUSIC HISTORY RENAISSANCE PERIOD MUSIC OF THE RENAISSANCE

MUSIC HISTORY RENAISSANCE PERIOD

MUSIC OF THE RENAISSANCE DATES: 1400 AD to 1600 AD

MAJOR EVENTS

THE RENAISSANCE • Renaissance means “rebirth” • Was a time of great cultural awakening called “humanism” • Considered to be the bridge between the Dark Ages and Modern History • Great strides in the Arts & Sciences

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS • Development of the compass made voyages of discovery possible that opened up new worlds (Columbus, Vespucci, Ponce de Leon, etc. ) • Invention of printing press (c. 1455) by Johannes Gutenberg • Michelangelo’s David • Great and lavish palaces exemplified the ideals of order and balance

PROMINENT FIGURES Leonardo da Vinci – Painter – 1452 to 1519 Michelangelo – Sculptor – 1475 to 1564 Martin Luther – Religious Reformer – 1483 to 1546 Machiavelli – Italian Statesman – 1469 to 1527 Galileo – Scientist – 1564 to 1642 Shakespeare – Writer – 1564 to 1616 The Renaissance marks the birth of the modern European spirit and of Western society as we have come to know it.

Musicians in Medieval and Renaissance Society Musicians were supported by public institutions like churches and states as well as aristocracy. Employment in music-related fields was abundant (singers, composers, music printers, teachers, instrument makers, etc. ) The merchant class emerged as a new group of music patrons. Most of the cultivated middle and upper class were amateur musicians. Music literacy spread dramatically due to the invention of music printing. The Concert (c. 1530– 40)

RENAISSANCE MUSIC Music of the Renaissance was both: SACRED SECULAR and

Renaissance Sacred Music still played a very prominent role in the church during the Renaissance Most church music was in a cappella style (vocal music without instrumental accompaniment) Polyphony based on principle of imitation – musical ideas exchanged between vocal lines Harmonies based on “sweeter” sounds of thirds and sixths as compared to the fifths and octaves of medieval music Use of fixed melody (cantus firmus) and triple meter to symbolize the holy Trinity LISTEN: Palestrina - https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=rq. N-n. Frt. K-g

Renaissance Sacred Music The Motet In the Renaissance the motet was used mostly for church services and had a Latin text Most were Marian motets (in praise of the Virgin Mary) Written for three, four, or more voices Utilized a Cantus firmus (fixed melody)

Renaissance Sacred Music Josquin des Prez (c. 1450 – 1521) Considered one of the great masters of sacred music in the Renaissance Exerted a powerful influence on generations of composers to follow… His music expressed emotion and was characterized by beautiful melodies with expressive harmony Wrote over 100 motets, 17 Masses, numerous chansons and Italian secular songs

Josquin des Prez: Ave Maria. . . virgo serena (Hail Mary…gentle virgin) LISTENING GUIDE Renaissance motet for four voices dedicated to the Virgin Mary Combinations of voices and textures Imitative vs. homorhythmic (all voices move together rhythmically) sections Final couplet: simple texture, example of humanistic spirit

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=u. PUVSSNSni 4

Renaissance Sacred Music The Renaissance Mass Composers concentrated their musical settings on the “Ordinary” or fixed portion of the mass that was sung daily. The five movements of the Ordinary are: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei Originally sung in Latin, now the Ordinary is recited or sung in the vernacular. Settings of the mass are often based

MOVEMENTS OF THE MASS

Renaissance Sacred Music The Reformation and Counter-Reformation Martin Luther (1483– 1546) began the Protestant movement known as The Reformation in 1517 with his Ninety-Five Theses – a list of reforms he proposed for the church for which he was excommunicated. Counter-Reformation – the response of the Catholic church which focused on a return to sacred values. Council of Trent - meeting organized by the Catholic church (longest meeting in history – 1545 to 1563) in an attempt to regulate every aspect of religious practice. Took up the following issues: – Corruption of chant by embellishment – Use of certain instruments in religious services – Incorporation of popular music in Masses – Secularism of music – Irreverent attitude of church musicians Church leaders sought a pure vocal style that Martin Luther (1483 – 1546)

Renaissance Sacred Music Palestrina and the Pope Marcellus Mass Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – (c. 1525– 1594) – Called Palestrina Italian composer, organist, and choirmaster Member of Sistine Chapel Choir Wrote mostly sacred music – over 100 masses and motets, most famous was the Pope Marcellus Mass Music represents a pure a cappella style of vocal polyphony Strove to make the words understood by properly accentuating them to meet the guidelines of the Catholic reform

Palestrina: Pope Marcellus Mass, Gloria (Listening Guide) Published 1567 Foreshadows the strict demands of the Council of Trent. Probably performed a cappella Written for six voice parts (a typical setting for the all-male church choirs) – Soprano (sung by boys or male falsettists – men singing in falsetto) – Alto (sung by male altos or countertenors—tenors with high voices) – Tenor II – Bass II Opens with a monophonic intonation Choral sections are polyphonic and balanced Text is clear and audible.

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=m. Ui. YFNIIl 8 s

Renaissance Secular Music in Court and City Life Musicians were hired to entertain at court and civic functions. Secular music started to be played in the home which utilized vocals along with instrumental accompaniment (lute, keyboard) Study of music was considered to be part of the proper upbringing for a young girl and women began to have prominent roles in music performance Two important genres arose as a result of the fusion of poetry & music: the chanson (French) and the madrigal (Italian and English) The start of “word painting” – the musical depiction of words. This was a prominent The Prodigal Son among the Courtesans

Renaissance Secular Music The Italian Madrigal A madrigal is a vocal piece set to a short love poem of a lyric or reflective nature – either with or without instruments Most important secular music genre of the Renaissance Flourished in the Italian courts as well as homes Concert in the Open Air, Anonymous A stylized 16 th-century painting of four singers performing from music books.

Renaissance Secular Music The Italian Madrigal Love and unsatisfied desire were often the topics of the madrigal, though some had themes of humor, satire, politics, and scenes of city and country life, all set expressively to music. Instruments would often double voice parts. Three phases of the madrigal: 1. 1525 -1550 – composed for amateurs 2. 1550 -1580 – expanded to 5 or 6 voices 3. 1580 -1620 – increase in complexity leading into the Baroque Era

Renaissance Secular Music Arcadelt and the Madrigal Jacques Arcadelt (c. 1507– 1568) Italian composer – highly influential in the development of the Italian Madrigal Published book of madrigals in 1538 that became the most widely printed collection of the time period. His most famous madrigal: Il bianco e dolce cigno – “The White and Sweet Swan”

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=GUH 11 wq. PRf. U

Renaissance Secular Music The English Madrigal English further developed the Italian madrigal Musica Transalpina (Music from beyond the Alps) was the first book of English madrigals and was a translation of an Italian collection Simpler and lighter in style Even with humorous syllables (fa-la-la) Weelkes: “Welcome Sweet Pleasure” https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=s. Obuw 2 w 1 r. Is “Since singing is so good a thing, I wish that all men would learn to sing. ” —William Byrd

Renaissance Secular Music Instrumental Dance Music The sixteenth century was a time of growth in instrumental music, resulting from the invention of music printing Books of dance music were published for solo instruments and small ensembles Instrumentation was not specified but was chosen according to the occasion—loud (haut) instruments for outdoor occasions and soft (bas) instruments for indoors. Percussion parts were not written out,

Renaissance Secular Music Instrumental Dance Music Three Popular dance types: Pavane (a stately court dance) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=BXZr. T 4 f. Mg. Fk Saltarello (a quicker, jumping dance) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=PWMyb 1 Utlz. E https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=RU 8 QFe. DZyvg Ronde (a lively romp performed in a circle) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=4 Ls 0 b. Adh. Nmw

Renaissance to Baroque Transition By the end of the Renaissance Era, composers looked to find inventive ways to convey the text of vocal works through a single melody rather than several interweaving ones…. . this gave rise to a variety of new genres which served as a transition to a new Era, the Baroque era: The Baroque era saw the rise of the vocal genres of opera, cantata, and oratorio. In addition, the development of purely instrumental forms in music gave rise to both small and large ensembles.

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS English composer, flourished as a church musician, and is considered one of the church's best early composers Composed many styles of music, the majority of which is arranged for choir as Latin motets and English anthems. Thomas Tallis (1510 - 1585) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v= Yx-_XCOFX 3 g

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Josquin Des Prez (1440 - 1521) Considered one of the great masters of sacred music in the Renaissance Exerted a powerful influence on generations of composers to follow… His music expressed emotion and was characterized by beautiful melodies with expressive harmony Wrote over 100 motets, 17 Masses, numerous chansons and Italian secular songs https: //www. youtube. com/w atch? v=u. PUVSSNSni 4

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Repertoire consists entirely of vocal music He preferred low voices His most popular work, the Requiem, and one of the earliest surviving Requiem masses, emphasizes the lower voices Pierre de La Rue (1460 - 1518) Rhythmic patterns and long, flowing melodies are main characteristics of La Rue's music. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v= N 5 ex. SCwrps. M

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Much of Monteverdi's early years were spent composing madrigals; nine books in total Wrote first dramatic opera, Orfeo Wrote revolutionary music which helped to Link the Renaissance to the Baroque Quite famous in his lifetime Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643) https: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=Raj. Aq 0 Yd-s 4

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Considered one of the greatest English composers of all time, with hundreds of individual compositions Considered by many to be the first "genius" of the keyboard Wrote many works for piano William Byrd (1543 - 1623) https: //www. youtube. com/watc h? v=HVo. Qy 4 M 5 pxo

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – (c. 1525– 1594) – Called Palestrina Italian composer, organist, and choirmaster Member of Sistine Chapel Choir Wrote mostly sacred music – over 100 masses and motets, most famous was the Pope Marcellus Mass Giovanni Palestrina (1526 - 1594) Music represents a pure a cappella style of vocal polyphony Strove to make the words understood by properly accentuating them to meet the https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 f 0 i. Cn 2 Kie. A guidelines of the Catholic reform

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Known for his smooth polyphonic style and beautiful motets With over 2, 000 written works for all styles of music, including all Latin, French, English, and German vocal genres Orlando de Lassus (1530 - 1594) One of Europe's most versatile composers https: //www. youtube. c om/watch? v=FUSei. Oa Tns. Q

IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Bridges the Renaissance to the Baroque Preferred composing sacred works, he was able to create stunning musical effects Giovanni Gabrieli (1553 - 1612) Unlike those before him, Gabrieli meticulously created and planned the use of antiphone (a choir or group of instruments first heard on the left, followed by a response from another group of musicians on the https: //www. youtube. com/watch ? v=y. B 96 Nym. Hf. LQ