The Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual movement between the 14th and 17th centuries that began in Italy and spread throughout Europe. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and a rebirth of ideas from ancient Greece and Rome. Music expanded significantly during this period, moving beyond the church to noble courts which employed large chapels of musicians. Renaissance music was characterized by polyphonic compositions, with sacred music like the mass and motet dominating initially before the rise of secular genres like the madrigal and villancico. Several European schools of composition emerged across Italy, France, Spain and elsewhere to advance Renaissance music.

1. RENAISSANCE
Víctor Acevedo González, nº1
Lucía Allen Fano, nº3
Iván Bueno Ferrero, nº7 2ºE.S.O. B

2. RENAISSANCE
• 14th to 17th century.
• Started in Florence, Italy.
• Cultural bridge that marked the start of the Early
Modern Age.
• Ancient Rome and Greece ideas reborned.
• Great intellectual and cultural movement: Humanism
• “Humans are the centre of the Universe”
• “Do your best at Earth!”
Vitruvian Man,
Leonardo da Vinci

3. La Gioconda,
Leonardo da Vinci
Fractionary numbers,
Christoff Rudolff
Thomas á KempisEl Quijote,
Miguel de Cervantes
MUSIC
ART
LITERATURE PHILOSOPHY
SCIENCE
RENAISSANCE

4. • Before this period, the most
important music was played by
the Church.
• Renaissance -> Music expanded
to nobles’ palaces.
• Music started to be considered an
art form.
• Princes and dukes created
chapels:
• 15-20 musicians.
• Leaded by the Kappelmeister.
MUSICAL RENAISSANCE

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF
RENAISSANCE MUSIC:
• JUST POLYPHONY!:
• Counterpoint polyphony.
• Homophonic polyphony.
• The rhythm was regular.
• The beats were soft (except in dances).
• Lyrics were very important.
• Emphasize
• Equilibrium between voices.
MUSICAL RENAISSANCE

6. • MASS:
• Musical form based on the
union of sacred texts
• MOTET:
• Polyphonic composition
without accompainment.
• Doesn’t overlap different
lyrics.
• Most important composers:
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
• Orlando di Lasso (Italy)
• Tomás Luis de Victoria & Cristóbal
Morales(Spain)
RELIGIOUS VOCAL MUSIC

7. •PROTESTANT REFORMATION:
• Germany 1519, Martin Luther
creates Protestantism.
• Brought several changes to music:
• Music began to be written in
German.
• Chorale; the most important
protestant music genre.
• Simple, four voice work.
• Sung in German.
• Homophony.
RELIGIOUS VOCAL MUSIC
• Anglican Church -> ANTHEM Marthin Luther,
“creator” of Protestantism.

8. •COUNTER-REFORMATION:
• The Catholic church was worried
about internal fights.
• Trent Council (1545-1563):
• The songs were written in Latin.
• Any Secular theme was
forbidden.
• Polyphony was simplified.
RELIGIOUS VOCAL MUSIC
Pope Paul III,
convener of the Council of Trent.

9. • Different in each area.
• ITALY (Madrigal):
• Complex polyphony.
• Sung by 4 to 5 voices.
• Usually, was sung a capella.
• Luca Marenzio & Claudio
Monteverdi.
• SPAIN (Villancico):
• NOT RELATED TO
CHRISTMAS.
• Sung in Spanish.
• Juan del Enzina.
SECULAR VOCAL MUSIC

10. • Was being forgotten.
• JUST to entertain people.
• PRESS INVENTION (~1440):
• Musicians printed and spread a great
number of works.
• Sheet music.
• Music theory books.
• Anyone might get involved in music world.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
• Scores based on vocal works:
• In the beginning -> Sung by several voices.
• Later -> Adapted for instruments.
• Scores based on improvisation:
- Were improvised with a written reference.
- Were invented as the music was playing.
• Scores written for being danced:
• Sung by four voices.
• Generally homophonic.
• Basse danse
• Pavane
• Galliard
• Allemande
• Courante.

11. FRANCO-FLEMISH SCHOOL:
• Nowadays Netherlands and France.
• Josquin des Prez & Orlando di Lasso.
• Whole Europe’s polyphonic music improvement.
SPANISH SCHOOL:
• Deep and dramatic music.
• Cristóbal De Morales & Tomás Luis de Victoria.
EUROPEAN SCHOOLS
Cristóbal de Morales,
Spanish school

12. VENETIAN SCHOOL:
• VERY IMPORTANT for Music History.
• Its innovations introduced marked the end of
Mussical Renaissance.
• Beginning of the BAROQUE.
• Considered to be the creator of music for two or
more choirs.
• Adrian Willaert (Creator of the school) & Claudio
Monteverdi.
EUROPEAN SCHOOLS
Adrian Willaert,
Creator of Spanish school