Renaissance 1300 1600 Renaissance Renaissance means rebirth or

Renaissance 1300 – 1600

Renaissance �Renaissance means rebirth or revival. �Strong influence of the ancient Greek and Roman styles.

Renaissance �Vocal music was more important than instrumental music. �Sacred music was more important than secular music.

�Music continued to develop in a polyphonic style. �Two vocal parts were more likely to sing independently of each other. �Two melodies completely independent of each other is called counterpoint.

�Composers began to write for three or more voice parts. �Each voice sang its own melody. �No voice was more or less important than the others.

Vocal Forms “The golden age of the a cappella style” �A cappella – vocal music without instrumental accompaniment �Smoothly gliding melodies �Polyphony – multiple voices �Continuous imitation �Motives are exchanged between vocal lines – imitating each other

Renaissance �The sequence of events in a Catholic church service is called the Mass. �Composers began to focus on the Mass as a main form for vocal music. �They also wrote motets, an unaccompanied vocal work based on a sacred Latin text.

Gregorian Chant �Organized and “approved” melodies for use at Mass and other liturgical celebrations �Monophonic �Driven by the text �No implied meter �Conjunct motion

Renaissance �Instruments of the Renaissance were essentially the same as the Medieval era. �Some instruments were introduced in the mass. �Usually, instruments would double the voice, meaning they would play the same thing the voice part was singing.

Renaissance �The written notation of neumes developed into today’s musical staff, clefs, and notes. �This system allowed composers to write music that was more complicated.

Renaissance �Great cathedrals were built in Europe, and organs were built in them. �The organ became the primary keyboard instrument.

Renaissance �Another primary keyboard instrument was the harpsichord. �This instrument is like a piano, but has strings that are plucked , and it does not have the dynamic range of a piano.

Virginal

Clavichord

Strings Lute Viol de braccia

Viola de gamba

�European royalty hired musicians to entertain at special events. �Traveling musicians continued to perform secular music for average citizens.

Rise of the Merchant Class �New group of music patrons �Emergence of the amateur musician �Printed music books become available �Musical literacy spread dramatically

Both professionals and amateurs took part in music making. Music was considered part of a proper upbringing for a young girl.

Renaissance �The primary secular music from the Renaissance was the madrigal. �This was a type of secular vocal music set to a poem. �Sacred music, however, was still the dominant type of music during this era.

FAMOUS COMPOSERS Josquin des Prez Palestrina

FAMOUS COMPOSERS Thomas Morley John Dowland