1. Chapter 6 The Renaissance
Music as Expression

2. Key Terms
Declamation
Word painting
Italian madrigal
English madrigal

3. Music as Expression
Composers inspired by descriptions of ancient Greek music
The power of music to arouse deep emotions
Orpheus and his lyre (or David and his harp?)
Unlike earlier music, Josquin’s music began to “illustrate” words and phrases
Two important developments
Accurate declamation
Word painting

4. Declamation Declamation is the manner in which words are set to music
Accurate declamation uses rhythms that closely match natural speech rhythms
Starting with Josquin, composers began to use more accurate declamation
Late Renaissance reliance on homophonic texture reflects increasing use of good declamation

5. Word Painting Musical illustration of the meaning of a word or phrase
Rapid notes for “fly” or “glitter”
High notes or upward leaps for “up” or “heaven”
Descending motive or a rest for “sigh”
Dissonances or chromatic harmonies for “grief,” “cruel,” “torment,” “harsh,” or “alas”

6. The Madrigal Originated in Italy around 1530
Short composition set to one-stanza poem
Most often a love poem
Rapid change of ideas and images echoed by changing motives and textures of musical setting
Alternation between imitation and homophony (similar to Mass and motet)
One singer to a part, meant for intimate setting

7. The Madrigal But unlike Mass or motet:
Points of imitation were shorter
Imitation was less strict
Often much more homophony
Words were much more important
Declamation and word painting used with great variety and subtlety
No genre realized Renaissance ideal of music as expression as fully as the madrigal

8. Weelkes, “As Vesta Was from Latmos Hill Descending”
Madrigal also proved enormously popular in late Renaissance England
Words for Weelkes’s madrigal written to honor Queen Elizabeth (Oriana!)
Bright, exuberant musical setting
Simple rhythms
Clear harmonies
Crisp, engaging melodic motives
Accurate declamation and frequent word painting

9. Word Painting in Weelkes’s Madrigal