The Renaissance was a period of rediscovery and rebirth of classical art, knowledge, and values that began in the 14th century. This led to an explosion of creativity, learning, and reform across Europe as advancements like the printing press spread new ideas. Music shifted from being centered around the Catholic Church to also being performed for royal courts and private patrons. Composers gained more prestige and independence during this time as prominent musical centers emerged in Italy, Germany, England, and Spain.

1. Music in History: The Renaissance
Historical Information
Music Appreciation
Unit 3

2. The Renaissance
• Renaissance mean “rebirth” or more importantly
"rediscovery."
• What was rediscovered was the art, knowledge and
humanistic values and esthetics of ancient Greece and
Rome.
• This was a time when there was an explosion of knowledge,
creativity, curiosity and reform in the church.
• Events in the world:
– Magellan sailed around the world.
– Martin Luther led the Protestant reformation.
– Humanistic thought focused on human life and
accomplishments rather than on religious doctrine and the
afterlife.

3. The Renaissance
• Timeline
– Guttenberg Bible 1456
– Columbus reaches America 1492
– Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa c. 1503
– Michelangelo: David 1504
– Raphael: School of Athens 1505
– Martin Luther’s 95 Theses 1517
– Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet 1596

4. The Renaissance
• Other Information
– Visual art becomes more realistic
• Mythology is the favorite subject
– Weakening of the Catholic Church
– Education and literacy now status symbol
• Result of invention of printing press

5. The Renaissance
• Church choirs grew in size (all male)
• Individual patrons began to rise
– Women did not sing in mixed church settings
– Musical center shifted from church to courts
– Court composers wrote secular and sacred music

6. The Renaissance
• Musicians now held higher status and pay
than before.
– Composers became known for their work
• Many composers were Franco-Flemish
– Worked throughout Europe, especially in Italy
• Italy became music capital in 16th century
– Other important centers: Germany, England, Spain

7. The Renaissance
• Knowledge during the Renaissance was obtained from
scholars rather than priests.
• The time period of the Renaissance in Western Europe
was from about 1400 (1450 was the year the printing
press was invented) to 1600 (the invention of opera).
• The imitative polyphonic Mass of the Renaissance
fulfilled the tradition of church music performed in
cathedrals.
• Music outside of the church played an increasingly
important role as composers came to be employed by
kings and nobility rather than by the church.

8. The Renaissance
• Continuing the Medieval tradition of music for entertainment,
listening or dancing to music increased in popularity.
• An educated person was often trained in music, sang madrigals or
played the lute or vihuela.
• The instruments of the Renaissance were related to the same
string, woodwind, brass, percussion and keyboard families that exist
today.
• Renaissance composers continually tried to make their music more
expressive, more relevant to Renaissance society and more
reflective to their every day human experience.
• Composers for the mass include Josquin Desprez and Giovanni
Palestrina.
• Composers for the lute include Dowland and da Milano, and the
vihuelists, Milan, Narvaez, Mudarra, Fuenllana and Pisador.