GIOVANNI

PIERLUIGI DA

PALESTRINA

The Renaissance

Period

THE RENAISSANCE

PERIOD

WHAT IS IT?

Music was an essential part of civic, religious, and courtly life in the

Renaissance. The rich interchange of ideas in Europe, as well as political,

economic, and religious events in the period 1400–1600 led to major

changes in styles of composing, methods of disseminating music, new

musical genres, and the development of musical instruments.

The most important music of the early Renaissance was composed for use

by the church.

Polyphonic is made up of several simultaneous melodies.

The cultural rebirth that occurred in Europe from

roughly the fourteenth through the middle of the

seventeenth centuries, based on the rediscovery of

the literature of Greece and Rome.

INSTRUMENTATION

Lute

Recorder

Organ

Trumpet

Sackbutt

Voice

RENAISSANCE MUSIC

From about 1520 through the end of the sixteenth century, composers

throughout Europe employed the polyphonic language of…

- French chanso the Italian madrigal, the German tenorlieder, the Spanish

villancico, and the English song, as well as in sacred music.

The Reformation and Counter-Reformation directly affected the sacred

polyphony of these countries. The Protestant revolutions (mainly in Northern

Europe) varied in their attitudes toward sacred music, bringing such musical

changes as the introduction of relatively simple German-language hymns (or

chorales) sung by the congregation in Lutheran services.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/26–1594), is seen by many as the

iconic High Renaissance composer of Counter-Reformation sacred music,

which features clear lines, a variety of textures, and a musically expressive

reverence for its sacred texts.

GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA

PALESTRINA

Born c. 1525, Palestrina, near Rome—died February 2,

1594, Rome, Italian Renaissance composer of more than 105

masses and 250 motets, a master of contrapuntal composition.

In 1544, Palestrina was engaged as

organist and singer in the cathedral of

his native town. His duties included

playing the organ, helping with the choir,

and teaching music.

MUSIC

Palestrina’s music output, though vast, maintained a remarkably

high standard in both sacred and secular works. His 105 masses

embrace many different styles, and the number of voices used

ranges from four to eight. The time-honoured technique of using a

cantus firmus (preexistent melody used in one voice part).

MAJOR WORKS

Sicut Cervus

Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass)

O Magnum Mysterium

INSTRUMENTAL WORKS DURING THE

RENAISSANCE

Canzona per Sonare No. 2

English Lute Music of the Renaissance (c. 1550-c.

1630)

SOURCES

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/renm/hd_renm.htm

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/439795/Giovanni-

Pierluigi-da-Palestrina

www.youtube.com