the renaissance 1450-1600. renaissance – a new birth began in 1450 – invention of the printing...
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The Renaissance The Renaissance 1450-1600 1450-1600
Renaissance – A New Birth
Began in 1450 – Invention of the Printing Press
Ended in 1600
An age of discovery and exploration
Renaissance Timeline
Changing Attitudes
The beginning of a gradual decline in the church’s influence in Europe
A period of exploration and questioning in almost all activities Musically, this meant more freedom for
composers and performers
Changing Attitudes Observation became the basis for
modern scientific method As opposed to the absolute authority of
the Church. Ex – Galileo Pleasurable aspects of sensory
experience became important guidelines in the arts. Music did not necessarily have to “do”
anything, but was appreciated on a sensory level
Characteristics of the Renaissance
Humanism—The dominant intellectual movement of the Renaissance, humanism focused on human life, experiences, and accomplishments, replacing the medieval focus on religious doctrine and the afterlife.
Exploration—This Age of Exploration saw voyages of discovery and conquest by Columbus, Magellan, and many others.
Characteristics of the Renaissance
Classicism—The “rediscovery” of the language, literature, philosophy, art, and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome fascinated people of the Renaissance.
Reformation—The power of the Catholic Church was profoundly shaken by Protestant reformers. Key figures were Martin Luther, Jean Calvin, and King Henry VIII. The Counter-Reformation was the church’s response.
Characteristics of the Renaissance
Interest in Education—The rise of secular power meant the rise of education outside the church. Aristocrats and the upper middle class hired scholars to educate their children.
Art in the Renaissance Religious subjects still important Increase in secular paintings and sculptures Inspired by Greek and Roman art,
Renaissance artists depicted the world around them with new clarity and perspective. This golden age of art and architecture boasts the creations of artists such as Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Titian, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Music in the Renaissance The discoveries of Pythagoras (tuning and
ratios in music) were reexamined and expanded for the first time in centuries.
The Greek philosophers and their ideas about music and expression were taken to heart by some late Renaissance composers.
Renaissance composers explored music’s pleasurable, expressive qualities, as opposed to the intellectual, mannered qualities prized by ars nova composers.
The Renaissance composer…
favors beautiful, a cappella sonorities uses consonant harmonies carefully controls dissonance mixes textures increasingly attempts to express
feelings (Joy, Sadness, etc.)
A reaction to Machaut and others
Listen to Machaut – Music had become very complex
Complex polyphony, difficult to understand the words
These traits began to appear in church music
How bad did it get?
“There does not exist a single piece of music, not composed within the last forty years, that is regarded by the learned as worth hearing.” – Johannes Tinctoris (1435 – 1511)
Tinctoris studied music and music theory.
Dufay and Early Homophonic Music
“Ave maris stella” (harmonization of plainchant hymn)
A-A-A form (each verse is the same) odd verses sung as chant even verses
use paraphrase use homophonic setting
Paraphrasing – building on chant
values melodic character of chant (unlike medieval organum) gives it specific meter & rhythm
embellishes it emphasizes the sensuous aspect of
chant
Early homophony paraphrased melodies emphasized in
top voice (beginning of treble dominated style)
supporting polyphonic voices create simple chords
result is plainchant harmonization sounds homophonic emphasizes sonorous effect of rich
chords
Banning music in the Church
Composers began to integrate secular melodies into church music
Music was so complex (ex. Machaut) that the words were impossible to follow.
Counter-Reformation
Council of Trent, 1545The Catholic Church’s response to the
Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther; considered reforming worship and practices of the Church
Also considered banning complex polyphonic music
Palestrina, Pope Marcellus Mass (1557)
Marcellus was Pope for only 3 weeks before he died. According to legend, Palestrina used this opportunity to demonstrate that the new compositional techniques – polyphony and homophony – could be appropriate for worship.
The Pope Marcellus Mass was an instant classic and is still performed today.
Palestrina, Pope Marcellus Mass
melodies are simpler, more singable harmonies are richer modes are similar rhythms are simpler textures mix homophony and
polyphony tone color is richer—six voices a
cappella
About the Mass
Mass became standardized as a multi-movement musical form during the Renaissance period Kyrie Gloria Credo Sanctus Agnus Dei
Josquin Desprez: Para lingua Mass (tr 8-9)
Intended for worship Used music to express ideas and feelings Uses imitation and sequence: melodic
voices enter one after another on different pitches to create a of polyphonic texture
Instead of competing, the voices take turns vying for attention
Other Renaissance techniques: Accurate Declamation
Accurate declamation – using rhythms to replicate natural speech
Melismatic music was no longer in favor
declamation = the manner in which words are set to music
accurate = rhythms closely match natural speech
Word Painting
musical illustration of the meaning of a word or phrase
rapid notes for words like “run” or “fly”
high notes of upward leaps for words like “up” or “lift”
dissonance for words like “grief,” “cruel,” “harsh,”
Listen: Woelkes, “As Vestas…” (tr 12)
Examples of Word Painting: “running” – rapid notes
“two by two” – duet “three by three” – trio“all alone” – solo
Instrumental music in the Renaissance
Listen – Daphne Listen – Kemp’s Jig
Stylized dance music - originally intended for dancing, but eventually written to be listened to and not necessarily for dancing