UNIT 2.

RENAISSANCE
INTRODUCTION.
The term Renaissance derives from the Word “Reborn”. Covrs he XV and XVI
centuries.
In music there is a stylistic evolution.
The Renaissance is a short stage, but one of the most relevant within the music
history.
RENAISSANCE.
It marked yhe definitive triumph of polyphony over monodic music.
Musica adquires great social Prestige.
RELIGIOUS MUSIC.
The Catholic Church will continue Its rich musical tradition by bringing
polyphony into its máximum splendor, to the pointo that this period is known as
“The Golden Age of Polyphony”.
The Coral is a simple composition, often base don popular melodies.
The Motet and the Mass were the most important composition in religious
music (complet with the notes the teacher has written on the board).
The most important compossers were:
- Josquin Des Prez
- Giovanni Perluigi Da Palestrina
- Orlando Di Lasso
- Cristóbal Morales
- Tomás Luis de Victoria
- Francisco Guerrero
SECULAR MUSIC
Secular music Will become increasingly important.
The Madrigal and the Chanson were the most important composition (complet
with the notes the teacher has written on the board).
The Villancico was the spanish composition.
THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE RENAISSANCE.
The orchestra does not yet exist, not the arrangement of the instruments.
The instruments are not specified in the score and the Works are performed
according to the means available on each occasion.
Instrumental families are divided into two categories bades on their sound
power and not their timbral or execution similarities:
LOUD MUSIC
Made up of instruments with great sound power. Are groups intended for
outdoor performance.

EXEMPLES:
- Bombard
- Suckbut
- Serpent
- Cornet
- Trumpet
- Shawm
LOW MUSIC
Formed by soft music instrumets. Are groups intended for interpretation in
indoor spaces.
EXEMPLES:
- Flutes
- Lutes
- Clavichord
- Spinet
DANCE IN THE RENAISSANCE
In the Renaissance, the nobiliy adopted the dance as a signo f refinament.
Every cultured person had to know music and dance.
Much of the success of instrumental music in the Renaissance is due to the
music intended for dance.
THE DANDE PAIRS
First: a slow tempo
Second: a fast tempo
The most famous dance pairs were:
- Pavana and Gallarda
- Passamezzo and Saltarello