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 RenaissanceMelody

Medieval

• Long, asymmetrical • Texted

melodies often melismatic

Renaissance

• Shorter, balanced • Texted melodies

often syllabic

Medieval to RenaissanceRhythm

Medieval

• Restless and active

Renaissance

• Smoother, more regular • Often tied to

rhythm of words

Medieval to Renaissance Harmony

Medieval

• Based on fifths and octaves

• Unexpected, pungent dissonances

Renaissance

• Based on triads • Dissonance less

harsh, usually on weak beats

• More adventurous in late Renaissance in portraying emotions

Medieval to Renaissance Tone Colour/Timbre

Medieval

• Voices and instruments mixed

• Bright tone colors, freely mixed

Renaissance

• Often a cappella or purely instrumental

• Softer tone colors, ensembles of similar instruments (consorts)

Medieval to Renaissance Texture

Medieval

• Monophonic and polyphonic • Non-imitative

Renaissance

• Mostly polyphonic • Often imitative

Medieval to Renaissance Form

Medieval• Often based on

cantus firmus and isorhythm (original chant form)

• Vocal refrain forms (virelai, rondeau)

Renaissance• Some isorhythm,

but usually based on text or dance forms

• Through-composed vocal pieces (madrigal and motet)

A Cappella: The Golden Age of Singing

• This was the golden age of the a cappella style.

• That means that singers sang without instruments.

• 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 non-religious 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.• Listen to this recording of Thomas Morley’s “Sing We and Chant it”

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 composers. He was Italian. He wrote mostly religious works. He is considered one of the great masters of Renaissance music. He wrote motets, madrigals, and masses.

Palestirina – Sicut CirvusWatch the music go by as it plays. What do you notice about the polyphony?

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

KyrieKyrie means God. This is the first piece in a musical mass.

GloriaGloria means Glory and follows the Kyrie.

CredoCredo means Creed of Belief. It follows the Gloria.

Sanctus Sanctus means Holy.

Benedictus Benedictus means Blessed.

Agnus Dei Agnus Dei means Lamb of God.

3 Popular Song Forms of the Renaissance

Just remember the Three M's:

Madrigal

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 music. This is non-religious music. Madrigals were usually love songs.

Motet

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.

Mass

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.

Samples of Renaissance Dance Forms

The Galliard The Branle

Questions for Discussion1. In a canon, all voices repeat the same melody. Can you name any canons you have

sung? What else are canons called?

2. A Renaissance man is someone who is good at everything he tries. What would you need to do today to be a Renaissance person? Is there anyone living today you would consider a Renaissance person? Why would it be harder to be Renaissance person today than during the Renaissance?

3. How did the printing press change music history?

4. Name some important ways that the Renaissance is different from the Medieval period.

5. Why do you think the Medieval period lasted 700 years longer than the Renaissance?

6. What is the musical texture of most of today's music?