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
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