REVIVAL OF

INTERESTS IN MUSIC
RENAISSANCE

1400-1600
“REBIRTH”
A period of exploration,
learning and achievement.
A time where authority and
influence of the church became
less powerful.
SECULAR MUSIC began to rise
 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND

Birth of Columbus and
Magellan.
Discovery of Copernicus that
it was the EARTH that revolved
around the sun and not the
other way around.
Height of Shakespear drama.
 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND

Martin Luther founded the
Protestant Church
Discovery of music
printing.
Ottaviano Petrucci of
Venice published the first
 
Renaissance Period
is sometimes referred
to as the
“GOLDEN AGE OF
POLYPHONY”
 
What happened
during this
period?
 
Vocal music was
more important than
instrumental music
 
What describe
Renaissance
music?
 1:

Polyphonic in
texture
 2:

More fuller,
emotional,
and
 
What highlights the
development of
renaissance music?
 First:

Development of polyphonic
imitation or the echoing of
music by another voice part
or instrument.
(Simultaneous
Composition)
 Second:

Development of
WORD
PAINTING
 
Word Painting
is the style of writing where
the music and words
illustrated the meaning of
the text.
 Third:

Invention of
Music Printing
 Fourth:

Rise of
secular music
SACRED


and
SECULAR
 1. MOTET

- is a polyphonic choral works in
Latin text
- Can be used in any service of
the church
- Usually in A CAPELLA
- Smooth sounding and imitative
in nature

 2. MASS

- Is a Renaissance form of
sacred composition
- Imitation (echoed entrances)
is an important feature.
Sections:
Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus,
Benedictus, Agnes Dei
 2. MASS
Types:

 GOTHIC MOTET – based on Gregorian
chant.
- contains secular words
 RENAISSANCE MOTET – serious,
restrained and designed for the worship
service
- Conveys a spirit of reverence
 3. MADRIGAL

- Is a secular polyphonic work for
a small group of
unaccompanied singers.
- Most artistic genre of secular
vocal music and are sung in
Italian or English.
 

MADRIGAL
 

FIRE, FIRE, MY HEART

INSTRUM


ENTAL
MUSIC




 

The Renaissance
Ensemble
 CONSORT

A group of musical
instruments playing
together.
 TWO TYPES OF CONSORT

BROKEN CONSORT
It is made up of various
instruments from different
families, thus producing a
broken sound.
 WHOLE CONSORT

It consists of
instruments from
one family.




 
The

RENAISSANCE
COMPOSERS
JOSQUIN DES PREZ
(1450-1521)

“MASTER of
the NOTES”
One of the
most influential
composers of
Renaissance
JOSQUIN DES PREZ

Known as a
Franco-Flemish
composer
Being admired by
many musicians
of his mastery of
expression and
technique.
JOSQUIN DES PREZ

He started his career as a
singer in different courts in
Italy, France and even spent
some time singing in the
Papal choir of Rome.
 
Ave Maria
(Virgo Serena)
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI
DA PALESTRINA

(1525-1594)

“PRINCE OF
MUSIC”
Savior of
Church Music
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI
DA PALESTRINA

His music is
universally
recognized as
model for clarity
and balance
Composer of
“perfect” sacred
music
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI
DA PALESTRINA

He spent most of his life as a choir
master on Rome whose focus
and great contribution was to return
church music to its simplicity and
purity to satisfy the desires of
church leaders during the 16th
century.
 
104 masses
250+ motets
200 liturgical pieces
and madrigals
 
Sicut Cervus
 ORLANDO DE LASSUS
(1523-1594)

“Master of Motet”
His music is
vigorous, passionate
and earthy.
His music was the
most widely
disseminated.
 
Musical Works:
“Magnus Opum Musicum”
“Penitential Psalms of David”
(1584) – his best known work
“Lagrime di San Pietro” (1594) –
his last work
“Susame un jour” – his well
known spiritual chanson
 

Susanne Un Jour
 WILLIAM BYRD
(1543-1623)
 “Father of Music”

 “The English
Palestrina”
 Greatest English
composer of the
Elizabeth Age
 He introduced the
Italian madrigal to
England.
 
Musical Works:
Psalms, Sonnets, and Songs
of Sadness and Pietie (1588)
Songs of Sundrie Nature
(1589)
Cantiones Sacrae
Grandualia
 

Sing Joyfully
(Cambridge Singers)
 GENERAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF

RENAISSANCE MUSIC
Clarity and balance
Polyphonic
Imitative
A capella as the ideal meduim in singing
Secular music greatly increases in
importance
Music printing (1501) contributes greatly
to the dissemination of music literature