The Renaissance

Listen to This By Mark Evan Bonds

2-1Listen to This By Mark Evan Bonds PRENTICE HALL

©2009 Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

The Renaissance Era~1425 - 1600

Period of recovery from the Middle Ages (also known as the “Dark Ages”) Arts and sciences were revived. French word for “rebirth” Age of humanism--intellectual and cultural

movement that explored human interests and values through science, philosophy, literature, painting, sculpture, and music




Renaissance Music(1450-1600)

Humanism-union of pagan & Christian beliefs Emphasis on the human & nature vs the otherworldly &

divine Affect on Fine Arts: Use of balance & order

Individual achievement important Belief that all things were knowable with the right kind of study




The Renaissance Period (1450-1600): Background

A “rebirth” in Europe after the Plague (Italy, 1348) and the Hundred Years’ War (England vs. France, 1337-1453)

Interest revived in Greek and Roman arts, philosophy, architecture, science, and mathematics

The age of exploration: Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan.

Rebirth of science: Nicolai Copernicus and Galileo Galilei.




The Renaissance EraBackground

Economic growth, particularly in Italy and the Low Countries (i.e., modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands)

New World “discovered” by Columbus in 1492. Kingdoms, duchies, city-states got bigger and richer. Ideal “Renaissance Man”--knowledge of a variety of

arts and sciences Human reason and individuality became very

important values. Movable type invented in mid-15th century. Music

printing established by 1500.




Renaissance Artists Botticelli Michelangelo Leonardo da

Vinci Raphael




The Renaissance EraBackground

Protestant Reformation--1517--Martin Luther nailed his list of complaints to the Church door; was the beginning of a large split in the Catholic church, called the “Reformation.”

Counter-Reformation--attempts to hold onto the Catholic liturgy and doctrine in the face of Protestantism




The Renaissance EraMusic

Composers brought words and music together in unity better than ever before.

Sound was based on polyphony--equal voice parts.

Most music had 3, 4, 5, or even 6 parts. Strong attention to text being sung, even

when polyphonic melodies were complex




Renaissance Music 1450

Beginning of today’s voice arrangement Superius-soprano Altus-alto Tenor Bassus-bass




Musical Compositions (Genres) of the Renaissance

Masses: settings of the Ordinary of the Mass Polyphonic texture

Madrigals: secular songs, originating in the Italian courts and spreading to other countries Secular songs about romantic love or

nature Settings of sonnets or pious devotions




Musical Compositions (Genres) of the Renaissance

Motets: sacred or secular pieces in polyphonic style Each part had different words. One part in a secular motet was based on

a chant in long notes: called the cantus firmus.

Generally 3 parts during this period




Characteristics of Renaissance Music

Texture Primarily polyphonic

Rhythm & Melody Each melodic line has greater rhythmic independence Scale with larger leaps vs. more step-wise movement

Words & Music Vocal music more important than instrumental Word painting




Josquin des Prez ca. 1450-1521 Born in Flanders(Belgium) Greatest composer of the early

Renaissance Contemporary of da Vinci Known for chansons(French

polyphonic songs) & motets Demanded high salary, changed

jobs often Hired by Duke of Ferrara to be a

composer for his court Other compositions:

Missa Pange Lingua (a Mass) Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi (another

Mass) Ave Maria. . . virgo serena




Ave Maria…Virgo serena(Hail Mary…Serene Virgin); 1475

4-voice motet Latin prayer to the Holy

Virgin Uses polyphonic repetition,

overlapping of phrases Adapted melody from

Gregorian chant, but rest of motet not based on chant

Varies texture, imitation in upper voices

Change from triple to duple meter




Josquin des Prez

• Quote from Martin Luther- “God has His Gospel preached also through the medium of music; this may be

seen from the compositions of Josquin, all of whose works are cheerful, gentle, mild, and lovely; they flow and move

along and are neither forced not coerced and bound by rigid and stringent rules, but, on the contrary, are like the song of

the finch.”




Chaper 5: Josquin des Prez--“The Cricket”

Polyphonic--4 distinct voices, equally important

Uses word painting--(e.g., long notes on words “hold a long line” and chirping sounds which imitate a cricket)

Music written to a humorous poem; an attempt to enhance the spirit of the poetry




Josquin des Prez--“The Cricket”

Texture--4 distinct voices, equally important Soprano (highest range--usually female) Alto (second-highest range--usually

female) Tenor (second-lowest range--male) Bass (lowest range--male)

Voices move together rhythmically throughout most of the piece.





Written in a style known as counterpoint. Every voice is a good melody rather than

one melody with accompanying voices. Can be very intricate and complex. Comes from the Latin, contrapunctum,

meaning “note-against-note.” In this recording, all 4 voices are male. The

upper two voices are sung in falsetto. Written so it could be played on instruments

OR sung. Typical in the Renaissance Period.





Word painting is extensive throughout the piece. Long melisma among the 4 voices when

the cricket sings of “love.” Form: Three parts, known as ternary form

Described as ABA (B is a contrasting section to A)

Each section has clearly distinctive music.




A Woodcut Image of Josquin des Prez




Portrait of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach the Elder

A theologian and a composer

Wrote “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

A German monk who nailed a list of complaints against the Catholic Church on the door of a church in Wittenberg




The Reformation

1517 The Ninety-Five Theses Music for Congregational

Participation Beginning of Lutheran

Chorale with text & tune only

Similar to today’s hymns




The Renaissance Period (1450-1600): Background

The power of the Catholic Church diminished, as new denominations sprung up.

The Catholic Church launched a “Counterreformation” as a reaction to this.

The most prominent composer of the Counterreformation was Palestrina.




The Counter-Reformation Council of Trent

Church felt threatened by Protestant Reformation Music under attack

Had strayed from Chant Complaints about use of secular tunes Complicated polyphony making words hard to

understand Noisy instruments, bad singers

Music should be purged of “barbarism, obscurities, contrarieties, and superfluities” so that “House of God should be house of prayer.”

Desiderius Erasmus




Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina(1525-1594)

Appointed Choirmaster of Capella Giulia, Vatican by Pope Julius III

Published first book of Masses Dismissed from position after

marrying Published first book of motets;

104 masses, approx. 450 other sacred works

Returned to Vatican in 1571, two eldest sons & wife died

Remarried, went into fur business, published 16 collections of music

Died 1594




Pope Marcellus Mass-Kyrie, (1562-1563)

Most famous mass Was thought to convince Council of Trent that

polyphonic masses should be kept in Catholic worship; not true, but does reflect need of understanding text

Dedicated to Pope Marcellus II Written for a capella choir Six voice parts Rich polyphonic texture, imitation




The Madrigal Most popular form of secular

music Originating in the Italian courts

and spreading to other countries Similar to and different from

motets Many found in the Squarcialupi

Codex, showing uses for voices singing same text

Written for small group of singers, imitative entrances of new text, singable vocal lines, more polyphonic

Songs about romantic love or nature, chivalry, spinning




The Madrigal

Not limited by religious traditions More innovative musical ideas English madrigals popular

Text in English Composers make lines tuneful & singable Not taken too seriously




Important Differences between Motets & Madrigals

Vernacular languages Deal with sentimental/erotic love Have stronger & more regular rhythm, faster tempo Sung at social gatherings of learned, artistic societies Popular among higher classes Written down & composed Contain text or word painting-music depicts word

being sung




Thomas Weelkes ca. 1575-1623 An English

composer who lived during the age of Shakespeare

During reigns of Elizabeth I and James I

Fascinated with Italian poetry and music, including Italian madrigal

A professional musician with a degree in music from New College, Oxford

Organist at Chichester Cathedral-most musically productive years

Also wrote sacred music

Lost his job at the Cathedral in 1617 because of blasphemy and drunkenness




As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending

The Triumphs of Oriana-anthology of madrigals composed in honor of Elizabeth I

Vesta-Roman goddess of hearth & home

Diana-goddess of the hunt, chastity, moon

Text-Vesta comes down hill with attendants(Diana’s darlings); Oriana, “maiden queen,” climbs hill with shepherds; Vesta’s attendants leave to join her




As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending

Major use of word painting – words like “ascending” &

“descending” set with scales that move in said direction;

as Vesta’s attendants leave to run down hill, appropriate number of singers mirror text- 3, 2, then 1;

“Long” is longest note Rhythmic setting effective, contributes

to expressiveness




Instrumental Music

Instruments often accompanied singing of secular music

Players simplified written parts using chords Lute-Most popular instrument Instruments used exclusively for dance music Pavane, Galliard, ballade, rondeau




Instruments of the Renaissance

Dulcian Viol de gamba Harp/lyre Hirten Lizard





Lute Organet Psaltery Sackbut Serpent





Shawm Shofar Tenor viol Flute Tenor recorder