1. RENAISSANCE (1450-1600) (age of Humanisim) -printing press
-“Universal Man” every educated person was expected to be musicians along with other education
-Age of Shakespeare and rebirth of the arts
-Church continues to be major patron of music but secular attention to courts begins to rise
-Musicians enjoy higher status and pay; no longer content to be unknown

2. RENAISSANCE (1450-1600) (age of Humanisim) Flemish Composers
(Netherlands, Belgium, N France)
highly regarded &
held high positions across Europe
Italy became leading music center in 16th cen.

3. CHARACTERISTICS of RENAISSANCE MUSIC
Words & Music
vocal music more popular/important = humanistic interest in language influence
WORD PAINTING
with music begins
still relatively balance though with no extreme contrast in dynamics, tone color, rhythm, ect…

4. imitation common among voices (as in a round)
CHARACTERISTICS of RENAISSANCE MUSIC
Texture
mostly polyphonic with 4-6 voices in choral pieces with equal melodic interest
imitation common among voices (as in a round)
1st Homophonic texture used in mostly light pieces like dances
bass register used for the first time making fuller sound
sound is more stable because of consonant chords w/ basslines
GOLDEN AGE of a cappella choral music although occasional instruments are used but rarely notated for

5. CHARACTERISTICS of RENAISSANCE MUSIC Rhythm & Melody
gently flow rather than defined beat
each melodic line has its own rhythmic independence
= making both fun and challenging to sing
melodies are usually easy to sing pitch wise making it easy to concentrate on rhythm

6. SACRED MUSIC (Church Music) TWO MAIN FORMS THE MASS & THE MOTET

7. Polyphonic choral work
The Motet
Polyphonic choral work
Set to a sacred Latin Text other than the text of the Mass
Combines polyphonic and homophonic textures

8. Contemp of Leonardo da Vinci & Christhoper Columbus Flemish composer
Josquin Desprez( )
Contemp of Leonardo da Vinci & Christhoper Columbus
Flemish composer
Born in Belgium
International career in Italy w/ dukes and the Papal Choir
Worked in France for Louis XII
Wrote masses, motets, and secular vocal
Martin Luther loved his music

9. Josquin Desprez: AVE MARIA
LISTENING JOURNAL:
Josquin Desprez: AVE MARIA
Four voice motet – prayer to virgin Mary
polyphonic imitation
adopted 1st part from chant but rest is original
2, 3, or 4 voices at one time
mostly peaceful 2 beat
3 beat becomes more animated but returns to2 beat

10. Palestrina
&
The Renaissance MASS

11. The Renaissance Mass Five Sections 1. Kyrie 2.Gloria 3.Credo 4.Santus
5.Agnus Dei

12. most important Italian Composer of time
Palestrina ( )
most important Italian Composer of time
devoted to Catholic Church music
career mainly in Rome
Prolific writer = 104 masses 450 other sacred works

13. Counter-reformation (Protestant break away)
New Council of Trent wanted to return to monophonic masses only and get rid of polyphonic “theater music”
Palestrina’s music is reflection of this but still maintained polyphony but with simpler and otherworldly style

14. Palestrina’s most famous mass
Pope Marcellus Mass (1562)
Palestrina’s most famous mass
Thought to convince Council Of Trent that polyphony could remain in the church if done right
Dedicated to Pope Marcellus II

15. Palestrina : Kyrie from Pope Marcellus Mass
LISTENING JOURNAL:
Palestrina : Kyrie from Pope Marcellus Mass
Written for six a cappella voices
S/ A /(2) T / (2) B
Kyrie is 1st section of whole mass
Constant imitation
Flowing rhythm ‘til sustained chord at the end of each section
Has three sections ABA
Our recording is ABA’ faster tempo and louder but may not have been performed that way

16. RENAISSANCE (Secular Music)
secular vocal music became very popular as people branched out from the church setting
age of humanism
printing press help get copies to more people

17. RENAISSANCE (Secular Music)
Every educated person was expected to read and play music
Written for groups of solo voices
or for solo voice with 1 or more instruments to accompany
Imitation of natural sounds and many mood shifts unlike sacred music
MUCH MORE WORD PAINTING

18. The Renaissance Madrigal
piece for several solo voices set to a poem usually about love
combine polyphonic and homophonic textures but uses more word painting and unusual harmonies than Motets
madrigal originated in Italy around 1520

19. English madrigals were more light hearted than Italian
The Renaissance Madrigal
1588 the Spanish armada defeated by British consequently a volume of translated Italian madrigals published in London
In the age of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I madrigals became popular using English
English madrigals were more light hearted than Italian

20. WEELKES : As Vesta Was Descending
LISTENING JOURNAL :
WEELKES : As Vesta Was Descending
English composer of Madrigal’s
THOMAS WEELKES ( )
In “ENGLISH”
Listen for Word Painting
p.87 for text.

21. mostly instruments were used to accompany vocal
Instrumental Music
begins to take root.
mostly instruments were used to accompany vocal
instrumental mainly adapted versions of vocal music
gather what instruments you had and split up up vocal lines
no clearly defined notation

22. Most popular instrumental music was dance music
Pairs of dances (like line dancing)
The Stately
Pavane (Passamezzo)
duple meter
The Lively
Galliard in triple meter

23. PASSAMEZZO & GALLIARD by Caroubel
…not on your CD use youtube as ref
written by French violinist Caroubel
..from dance collection put together by German Praetorius (1612)
Passamezzo for 6 unspecified parts
Galliard for 5 unspecified parts
( our recording has modern instruments)