Descriptions and pictures of basic renaissance composers

2. Name: Renaissance Musical Period
Dates: 1400 – 1600
Countries: Europe
Facts:
• Composers from other countries
began to use a similar style.
• For the first time, music could be
printed.
Music:
• Composers began to express
themselves with music.
• Many instruments, including the
violin, guitar, recorder, and
keyboard, were made during the
Renaissance.
• The main style was polyphony,
or music with two or more
independent voices.

3. Name: Guillaume Dufay
Dates: 1397-1474
Country: Belgium, in Europe
Facts:
• He wrote music for the
Pope.
• Many other composers
copied his style.
Music:
• Masses – music for
catholic churches
• Many of his pieces use a
solo singer with two
instruments.

4. Name: Michael Praetorius
Date: 1571-1621
Country: Germany, in
Europe
Facts:
• He wrote a book about
the music of his day.
• He wrote dance music for
instruments, which is still
used today.
Music:
• His musical book,
Terpsichore, includes 300
songs.
• He wrote many pieces in
German for church choirs.

5. Name: Giovanni Pierluigi da
Palestrina
Dates: 1526-1594
Country: Italy, in Europe
Facts:
• He spent most of his life
composing in Rome.
• Four members of his family
died during a plague
outbreak.
Music:
• He wrote over 500 pieces of
music.
• His music is smooth and
flowing; it sounds beautiful in
a Cathedral.