Music Forms of

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Rena

The history
Generally considered to be from ca.1420 to 1600,
the Renaissance (which literally means "rebirth") was
a time of great cultural awakening and a flowering of
the arts, letters, and sciences throughout Europe.
With the rise of humanism, sacred music began for
the first time to break free of the confines of the
Church, and a school of composers trained in the
Netherlands mastered the art of polyphony in their
settings of sacred music.

WHAT WERE THE PRINCIPAL MUSIC FORMS DURING

THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD?

THE COMMON
SACRED GENRES
MASS,
MOTETS,
MADRIGARLS,
LAUDE

> The principal liturgical forms

which endured throughout the
renaissance period were
masses and motets. Other
developments towards the end,
especially as composers
Of sacred music began to adopt
secular forms (such as the
madrigal).

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Sacred vocal genres in renaissance

motets
A motet is a polyphonic choral work based on sacred latin text.
Motets first developed in the late middle ages, but flourished primarily
in the renaissance.
A motet is usually song a cappella (without instrumental
accompaniment) although instrument may double the voice.
Some renaissance charcteristics include cascading, passing chords
between multiple voices, and absence a strong or obvious beat.
Many secular motets are known as ceremonial motets.
Adrian willaert, ludwig senfi, and Cipriano

ADRIAN WILLAERT, LUDWIG SENFI, AND CIPRICIANO DE RORE

WERE PROMENENT COMPOSERS OF CEREMONALS MOTETS
DURING THE HALF 16TH CENTURY.

Adrian Willaert

Cipriano de rore

Example of a motet composed by Josq

dez Prez
(1450-1521)