The Notes Must Do as He Wills Josquin

The Notes Must Do as He Wills: Josquin & Music of the High Renaissance Please Take Handout & Sit in First 5 Rows By Voice Type: Front Alto Bass Soprano Tenor Door

Josquin des Prez, “Ave Maria. . . Virgo serena” Translation: Hail Mary, full of grace. . . Virgin serene

DA VINCI MICHAELANGELO GALILEO JOSQUIN DES PREZ

The notes must do as he wills. . . as for other composers, they must do as the notes wish. Martin Luther

Twin goals: 1. Why was Josquin so admired? 2. Understand musical language of mid-Renaissance

I. Josquin [des Prez] (Lebloitte) A. Josquin’s Biography(ca. 1455 -1521) 1. Born in North ca. 1455//Service in Italy by 1480 s 2. Flourishes ca. 1500, as music print culture flourishes 3. Confluence: migration + technology forges musical language of the High Renaissance B. Musical Implications of Renaissance Biography 1. Northern Traits (Old-Fashioned) • Solve technical problem: how to write complex polyphony while controlling dissonance 2. Italian Traits (More Modern) • Memorable melody/full, consonant harmony • music reflects verbal text:

I. Josquin [des Prez] (Lebloitte) A. Josquin’s Biography(ca. 1455 -1521) 1. Born in North ca. 1455//Service in Italy by 1480 s 2. Flourishes ca. 1500, as music print culture flourishes 3. Confluence: migration + technology forges musical language of the High Renaissance B. Musical Implications of Renaissance Biography Intellectual Humanistic 1. Northern Traits (Old-Fashioned) • Solve technical problem: how to write complex polyphony while cantore controlling dissonance buon The cricket is a good singer El grillo è 2. Italian Traits (More Modern) che tiene longo verso. He can hold a long note • Memorable melody/full, consonant harmony sound, drink, sense, cricket, structure • musiccanta. reflects verbal text: grillo Go ahead, sing! Dale beve 3. North/South synthesis spread via music printing

II. Musical Style of the “Josquin Generation” or High Renaissance (ca. 1490 -1550) A. Point of Imitation 1. Defined • Section of Renaissance work ≈ phrase • Based on short verbal text • That text set to musical motive • Motive presented successively (in imitation) by 2 or more voices 2. Musical results of P. O. I. • Musical unity • Control dissonance more easily • Word-music “fit” easier • Overlapping points create seamless flow

Told you. . . Josquin’s a rock star!

II. Musical Style of the “Josquin Generation” Mid- or High Renaissance (ca. 1490 -1550) A. Point of Imitation Block Homophonic Texture: • O Mater Dei, memento mei. Amen O Mother of God, be mindful of me. Amen.

5 th Section: 2: 26 Chordal Writing (Block Homophonic Texture) Changes to Triple meter 4 short phrases: one for each line of poetry ? ? ? 1 Ave vera virginitas, Hail true virginity, 2 Immaculata castitas, Immaculate chastity, 3 Cujus purificatio Whose purification 4 Nostra fuit purgatio. Was to be our purgation.

II. Musical Style of the “Josquin Generation” Mid- or High Renaissance (ca. 1490 -1550) A. Point of Imitation B. ? ? ? : Canon and Strict Imitation • Josquin was master of imitative compositon C. Cantus firmus technique • Composition incorporates pre-existing melody • Borrowed melody usually secular • Now found in tenor (inner) voice

The man, the armed man should be feared! Everywhere it is proclaimed that each man should arm himself with a coat of iron mail.

each man should arm himself with a coat of iron mail

II. Musical Style of the “Josquin Generation” Mid- or High Renaissance (ca. 1490 -1550) A. Point of Imitation B. Canon and Strict Imitation • Josquin was master of imitative compositon C. Cantus firmus technique • Composition incorporates pre-existing melody • This “borrowed” melody usually secular • Now found in tenor (inner) voice D. Sogetto cavatto delle vocali =lit. “subject carved” from the vowels

Sogetto cavatto Ren. Scale= Ut, re, mi, fa, so, (la) Her- cu- les Dux Fer- ra- ri- ae Re ut ut re re re fa mi

Josquin: Absalom, fili mi Non vivam ultra, sed descendam in infernum plorans (2 x) I shall live no longer, but descend into Hell, weeping.

Josquin des Prez

Josqin: Petite camusette Robin and Marian entered a beautiful wood. Arm in arm, they went, and fell asleep.