The Renaissance period saw a rebirth of interest in classical Greek and Roman culture. Music during this time was predominantly polyphonic, with multiple, independent melodic lines. Two major vocal forms were the mass, settings of liturgical texts, and the madrigal, secular pieces for social gatherings. Famous Renaissance composers included Palestrina, who helped establish the mass as a major musical form, and Thomas Morley, a English composer known for madrigals celebrating love and springtime.

1. Music of the
Renaissance Period
(1400 – 1600)

2. The term Renaissance comes from
the word renaitre which means
“rebirth”, revival, and rediscovery. The
Renaissance Period is a period of
looking back to the Golden Age of
Greece and Rome.

3. Historical Facts
The invention of printing
discovery of the actual position of earth in the
solar system by Copernicus
the invention of compass creating a wider
navigation not only of the lands but also of the
oceans

4. Characteristics of Renaissance Music:
 Mostly polyphonic
 Imitation among the voices is common
 Use of word painting in texts and music
 Melodic lines move in a flowing manner
 Melodies are easier to perform because these
move along a scale with a few large leaps

5. Vocal Music of the Renaissance Period
1. Mass – is a form of sacred musical composition
that sets texts of the Eucharistic liturgy into music.
Characteristics of the Mass:
 Polyphonic
 May be sung a cappella or with orchestral accompaniment
 Text may be syllabic (one note set to each syllable), neumatic (a
few notes set to one syllable), or melismatic (many notes to one
syllable)

6. Five Main Sections of Mass:
1. Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)
2. Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest)
3. Credo (I Believe in One God)
4. Sanctus and Benedictus (Holy, holy and
Blessed Is He)
5. Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

7. 2. Madrigal
A secular vocal polyphonic music composition which
originated from Italy. It is written and expressed in a
poetic text and sung during courtly social gatherings. It is
the most important secular form during the Renaissance
period
.
Characteristics of the Madrigal:
 Polyphonic
 Sung a cappella
 Through–composed
 Frequently in 3 to 6 voices

8. Famous Composers of the Renaissance
Period
1. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Rome, 1525 - February 2, 1594
said to be the greatest master of
Roman Catholic Church music
during the Renaissance period.
Majority of his compositions are
sacred music.

9. 2. Thomas Morley
1557 – 1602
Morley was born in Norwich, East England,
the son of a brewer. He was a singer in
the local cathedral from his boyhood,
and he became master of choristers
there in 1583.

10. His works include:
 Fire, Fire, My Heart
 Sing and Chant It
 Fantasie
 April Is In My Mistress‟ Face
 It Was A Lover and His Lass