The Renaissance Era Important Developments Secular music is

The Renaissance Era

Important Developments • Secular music is non-religious music and it was becoming more popular during this time. There was a rise in instrumental music and dance music, too. • The printing press was invented during the Renaissance. Some people consider the printing press to be the most important contribution to civilization in the last one thousand years! The printing press allowed music to be printed quickly. Before the Renaissance, music had to be copied by hand. • One of the most famous persons from the Renaissance was Leonardo da Vinci. He was known as a Renaissance man because he could do many things well. He was a painter, architect, inventor, scientist, poet, musician, and teacher.

A Rebirth of Knowledge • Renaissance means rebirth. • This period saw a rebirth in knowledge. • The focus of the Renaissance was turning from God to man. • Science and the arts were becoming more important. • Christopher Columbus discovered America • Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel. • William Shakespeare was writing his famous plays.

Medieval to Renaissance Melody Medieval Renaissance • Long, • Shorter, asymmetrical balanced • Texted melodies often syllabic melismatic

Medieval to Renaissance Rhythm Medieval Renaissance • Restless and active • Smoother, more regular • Often tied to rhythm of words

Medieval to Renaissance Harmony Medieval Renaissance • Based on fifths and • Based on triads • Dissonance less octaves harsh, usually on • Unexpected, weak beats pungent dissonances • More adventurous in late Renaissance in portraying emotions

Medieval to Renaissance Tone Colour/Timbre Medieval Renaissance • Voices and instruments mixed • Bright tone colors, freely mixed • Often a cappella or purely instrumental • Softer tone colors, ensembles of similar instruments (consorts)

Medieval to Renaissance Texture Medieval Renaissance • Monophonic and • Mostly polyphonic • Non-imitative • Often imitative

Medieval to Renaissance Form Medieval Renaissance • Some isorhythm, • Often based on but usually based cantus firmus and on text or dance isorhythm (original forms chant form) • Through-composed • Vocal refrain forms vocal pieces (virelai, rondeau) (madrigal and motet)

A Cappella: The Golden Age of Singing • This was the golden age of the a cappella style. • Vocal music was still more important than instrumental music.

The Madrigal • Madrigals were popular during the Renaissance. • These song forms were performed in groups of four, five, or six singers. • A madrigal is secular music. This is nonreligious music. • Madrigals vary in terms of content, but many are about love, but could just as likely be about death. • The text of the madrigal was the focus and the music was framed around this a cappella form. • England in particular has long been noted for its madrigals, with numerous composers of the form such as Thomas Morley.

Sacred Renaissance Music • Religious music was still very important. Choral music of the Renaissance was an extension of the Gregorian chant. It was sung a cappella and sung in Latin. • Motets were popular during this time. A motet is a polyphonic work with four or five voice parts singing one religious text. • Giovanni Palestrina was one the Renaissance period's most important Italian composers. He wrote mostly religious works. He is considered one of the great masters of Renaissance music, writing motets, madrigals, and masses.

Palestrina – Sicut Cirvus

The Mass • The musical mass was an important part of the Catholic Church's religious service. • Each part of the celebration would have a different musical number. • The mass would be sung in Latin.

The Order of the Mass Kyrie means God. This is the first piece in a musical mass. Gloria means Glory and follows the Kyrie. Credo means Creed of Belief. It follows the Gloria. Sanctus means Holy. Benedictus means Blessed. Agnus Dei means Lamb of God.

3 Popular Song Forms of the Renaissance Just remember the Three M's: Madrigal Motet Mass This is a polyphonic work, which means it has many musical lines of equal importance. Madrigals were sung with lots of imitation, which means the voices take turns singing the same melody. Madrigals were performed in groups of four, five, or six singers. They sang secular (non-religious) music. Madrigals were usually love songs. A motet is a polyphonic work with four or five voice parts singing one religious text. They are similar to madrigals, but with an important difference: motets are religious works, while madrigals are usually love songs (secular). A musical mass is like a motet, only longer. It also follows the religious service of the Catholic Church and is sung in a very specific order: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei. It is performed in Latin.

Instrumental Music • There was a growth in instrumental music, especially the lute and keyboard. • The most popular instrument of the Renaissance was the lute.

Instrument Families • It was during this period that families of instruments started to develop. • These families were called consorts. This is where we get the word concert.

Dance Music • Dancing was a favorite pastime during the Renaissance. • Educated people were expected to know how to dance. There were simple dances that were usually danced in chains or circles. • There were also more difficult dances that required lots of practice. • Dancing encouraged new forms of instrumental compositions. • Many songs were written just for dancing. • Some popular renaissance dances were the branle, pavane, galliard and allemande.