Music in The Renaissance Music in The Renaissance (1450-1600)(1450-1600)

N.H.S. HumanitiesN.H.S. Humanities

Renaissance time lineRenaissance time line

1450-15001450-1500

Josquin Desprez:Josquin Desprez:Misse Pange Lingua “Kyrie”Misse Pange Lingua “Kyrie”• Arts and letters: Arts and letters: Botticelli,Botticelli, La Primavera La Primavera

(1477) (1477) • Historical events:Historical events:

Fall of Constantinople (1453)Fall of Constantinople (1453) Gutenberg Bible (1456)Gutenberg Bible (1456) Columbus reaches America (1492)Columbus reaches America (1492)

Renaissance time lineRenaissance time line

1500-16001500-1600 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina:Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina:

Pope Marcellus Mass Pope Marcellus Mass (1563)(1563) “ “Qui Tollis”Qui Tollis”

• Leonardo Da Vinci, Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona LisaMona Lisa (c. 1503) (c. 1503)• Michelangelo, Michelangelo, DavidDavid (1504) (1504)• Raphael, Raphael, School of AthensSchool of Athens

(1505)(1505)• Titan, Titan, Venus and the Lute PlayerVenus and the Lute Player

(c. 1570)(c. 1570)

Renaissance time lineRenaissance time line

1500-16001500-1600 Thomas Weelkes: Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta Was As Vesta Was

Descending (1601)Descending (1601)• Shakespeare, Shakespeare, Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (1596) (1596)• Martin LutherMartin Luther’’s ninety-five theses, start of the s ninety-five theses, start of the

Reformation (1517)Reformation (1517)• Council of Trent (1545-63)Council of Trent (1545-63)• Elizabeth I, queen of England (1558-1603)Elizabeth I, queen of England (1558-1603)• Spanish Armada defeated (1588)Spanish Armada defeated (1588)

The Renaissance The Renaissance Rebirth, or renaissance of human creativityRebirth, or renaissance of human creativity Period of exploration and adventure (Columbus, Period of exploration and adventure (Columbus,

Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan)Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan) Curiosity and individualism (Raphael, Leonardo Curiosity and individualism (Raphael, Leonardo

da Vinci). Interest in realismda Vinci). Interest in realism HumanismHumanism Catholic Church is less powerful than during Catholic Church is less powerful than during

Middle Ages – Martin LutherMiddle Ages – Martin Luther’’s Protestant s Protestant ReformationReformation

More books are printed in EuropeMore books are printed in Europe

Music in the Renaissance Music in the Renaissance 1450-1600 1450-1600

Every educated person is expected to be Every educated person is expected to be trained in musictrained in music

Renaissance town musicians: higher pay Renaissance town musicians: higher pay and statusand status

Flemish composers: parts of the Flemish composers: parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. Germany, England and Spain – France. Germany, England and Spain – other countries with a vibrant musical lifeother countries with a vibrant musical life

Characteristics of Characteristics of Renaissance musicRenaissance music

Words and musicWords and music

• Vocal music is more important than Vocal music is more important than instrumentalinstrumental

• Music Music enhancesenhances the meaning and emotion of the meaning and emotion of the text. the text. Word painting: Word painting: musical representation musical representation of specific poetic imagesof specific poetic images

• Moderate, balanced way of expression: no Moderate, balanced way of expression: no extreme contrasts of dynamics, tone color or extreme contrasts of dynamics, tone color or rhythmrhythm

Characteristics of Characteristics of Renaissance music Renaissance music

TextureTexture• Chiefly polyphonic. 4, 5 or 6 voice parts Chiefly polyphonic. 4, 5 or 6 voice parts

with equal melodic interestwith equal melodic interest• Imitation is commonImitation is common• Homophonic texture is also usedHomophonic texture is also used• Fuller sound than medieval: bass Fuller sound than medieval: bass

registerregister• Mild and relaxed: consonant chords.Mild and relaxed: consonant chords.• Golden age of Golden age of a cappellaa cappella

Characteristics of Characteristics of Renaissance music Renaissance music

Rhythm and melodyRhythm and melody Rhythm is a gentle flow: Each melodic line Rhythm is a gentle flow: Each melodic line

has great rhythmic independencehas great rhythmic independence Melody usually moves along a scale with Melody usually moves along a scale with

few large leapsfew large leaps

Sacred music in the Renaissance Sacred music in the Renaissance

2 main forms: Motet and Mass 2 main forms: Motet and Mass

Motet – polyphonic choral work set to sacred Latin Motet – polyphonic choral work set to sacred Latin text other than the ordinary of the masstext other than the ordinary of the mass

Mass – polyphonic choral work with 5 sections: Mass – polyphonic choral work with 5 sections: • KyrieKyrie• GloriaGloria• CredoCredo• SanctusSanctus• Agnus DeiAgnus Dei

Josquin Desprez (1440-1521) Josquin Desprez (1440-1521) and the Motetand the Motet

A Flemish composer from Belgium, A Flemish composer from Belgium, contemporary of Leonardo Da Vinci contemporary of Leonardo Da Vinci and Columbusand Columbus

Ave Maria…virgo serena: Ave Maria…virgo serena: 4-voice 4-voice motetmotet

Texture is varied: polyphonic and Texture is varied: polyphonic and homophonichomophonic

Duple/triple meter changeDuple/triple meter change

Palestrina (1525-1594)Palestrina (1525-1594)and the Massand the Mass

Italian Renaissance composer Italian Renaissance composer Giovanni Pierluigi da PalestrinaGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

104 masses and some 450 other 104 masses and some 450 other sacred workssacred works

For centuries, his masses are For centuries, his masses are regarded as models of church musicregarded as models of church music

PalestrinaPalestrina’’s s Pope Marcellus Pope Marcellus MassMass

A capella choir SATTBBA capella choir SATTBB Kyrie – 1Kyrie – 1stst section of the mass: section of the mass:

Kyrie EleisonKyrie Eleison

Christe EleisonChriste Eleison

Kyrie EleisonKyrie Eleison

Secular music Secular music Vocal music: groups of solo voices with the Vocal music: groups of solo voices with the

accompaniment. Word painting was commonaccompaniment. Word painting was common Madrigal – a piece for several solo voices set to a Madrigal – a piece for several solo voices set to a

short poem, usually about love. Combines short poem, usually about love. Combines homophonic and polyphonic textures. More homophonic and polyphonic textures. More unusual harmoniesunusual harmonies

Originated in Italy around 1520. Became popular Originated in Italy around 1520. Became popular in England. English madrigals are lighter and in England. English madrigals are lighter and more humorous than Italianmore humorous than Italian

As Vesta Was DescendingAs Vesta Was Descending by Thomas Weelkes by Thomas Weelkes (1575-1623), and organist and church composer(1575-1623), and organist and church composer

The Renaissance Ballet (Fa-La)The Renaissance Ballet (Fa-La)

A simpler type of secular vocal music A simpler type of secular vocal music A dance-like song for several voicesA dance-like song for several voices Mostly homophonic in structure. Fa-la Mostly homophonic in structure. Fa-la

syllables are used as refrainsyllables are used as refrain Now Is the Month of Maying Now Is the Month of Maying (1595) by (1595) by

Thomas Morley (1557-1603), English Thomas Morley (1557-1603), English composercomposer

Each stanza: Each stanza:

AA – refrain – BB - refrainAA – refrain – BB - refrain

Instrumental musicInstrumental music

Instrumental music becomes more independentInstrumental music becomes more independent Most music is for dance:Most music is for dance:

• Pavane or passamezzo– duple meterPavane or passamezzo– duple meter• Galliard – triple meterGalliard – triple meter

Harpsichord, organ, lute, recorder, trumpet, Harpsichord, organ, lute, recorder, trumpet, cornett, sackbut (early trombone), viol, regal cornett, sackbut (early trombone), viol, regal (small organ with reed pipes), shawm (ancestor of (small organ with reed pipes), shawm (ancestor of the oboe)the oboe)

Instrumental form of theme and variationsInstrumental form of theme and variations

The Venetian School: The Venetian School: from Renaissance to Baroquefrom Renaissance to Baroque

1616thth century Venice – a center of century Venice – a center of instrumental and vocal musicinstrumental and vocal music

Venetian School – music directors Venetian School – music directors and organists of St. Markand organists of St. Mark’’s Cathedral s Cathedral and their colleaguesand their colleagues

Giovanni Gabrieli (1555-1612)Giovanni Gabrieli (1555-1612)and the polychoral motetand the polychoral motet

The most important Venetian composer of The most important Venetian composer of the late Renaissance before Monteverdithe late Renaissance before Monteverdi

Polychoral motets – motets for 2 or more Polychoral motets – motets for 2 or more choirs, often with instrumentalistschoirs, often with instrumentalists

PlauditePlaudite (Clap Your Hands), 1597. Written (Clap Your Hands), 1597. Written for a large vocal and instrumental for a large vocal and instrumental ensemble of 12 voice parts divided into 3 ensemble of 12 voice parts divided into 3 choirs: low, middle and high register choirschoirs: low, middle and high register choirs

The homophonic structure of this piece The homophonic structure of this piece brings it closer to Baroque stylebrings it closer to Baroque style