The document provides an overview of music during the Renaissance period from 1450-1600. It discusses major composers such as Josquin Desprez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Thomas Weelkes. The sacred music forms of the motet and mass are described. Characteristics of Renaissance music included polyphonic texture, word painting, and emphasis on vocal music. Secular forms like the madrigal and ballet are also summarized. The document concludes with information on the Venetian School and composer Giovanni Gabrieli's innovative polychoral motets.

1. Music in The RenaissanceMusic in The Renaissance
(1450-1600)(1450-1600)

2. Renaissance time lineRenaissance time line
1450-15001450-1500
 Josquin Desprez:Josquin Desprez:
Ave Maria…Virgo Serena (c. 1475)Ave Maria…Virgo Serena (c. 1475)
• Arts and letters:Arts and letters: Botticelli,Botticelli, La PrimaveraLa Primavera
(1477)(1477)
• Historical events:Historical events:
 Fall of Constantinople (1453)Fall of Constantinople (1453)
 Gutenberg Bible (1456)Gutenberg Bible (1456)
 Columbus reaches America (1492)Columbus reaches America (1492)

3. Renaissance time lineRenaissance time line
1500-16001500-1600
 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina:Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina:
Pope Marcellus MassPope Marcellus Mass (1563)(1563)
• Leonardo Da Vinci,Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona LisaMona Lisa (c. 1503)(c. 1503)
• Michelangelo,Michelangelo, DavidDavid (1504)(1504)
• Raphael,Raphael, School of AthensSchool of Athens
(1505)(1505)
• Titan,Titan, Venus and the Lute PlayerVenus and the Lute Player
(c. 1570)(c. 1570)

4. Renaissance time lineRenaissance time line
1500-16001500-1600
 Thomas Weelkes:Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta WasAs Vesta Was
Descending (1601)Descending (1601)
• Shakespeare,Shakespeare, Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (1596)(1596)
• Martin Luther’s ninety-five theses, start of theMartin Luther’s ninety-five theses, start of the
Reformation (1517)Reformation (1517)
• Council of Trent (1545-63)Council of Trent (1545-63)
• Elizabeth I, queen of England (1558-1603)Elizabeth I, queen of England (1558-1603)
• Spanish Armada defeated (1588)Spanish Armada defeated (1588)

5. The RenaissanceThe Renaissance
 Rebirth, or renaissance of human creativityRebirth, or renaissance of human creativity
 Period of exploration and adventure (Columbus,Period of exploration and adventure (Columbus,
Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan)Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan)
 Curiosity and individualism (Raphael, LeonardoCuriosity and individualism (Raphael, Leonardo
da Vinci). Interest in realismda Vinci). Interest in realism
 HumanismHumanism
 Catholic Church is less powerful than duringCatholic Church is less powerful than during
Middle Ages – Martin Luther’s ProtestantMiddle Ages – Martin Luther’s Protestant
ReformationReformation
 More books are printed in EuropeMore books are printed in Europe

6. Music in the RenaissanceMusic in the Renaissance
1450-16001450-1600
 Every educated person is expected to beEvery educated person is expected to be
trained in musictrained in music
 Renaissance town musicians: higher payRenaissance town musicians: higher pay
and statusand status
 Flemish composers: parts of theFlemish composers: parts of the
Netherlands, Belgium, and northernNetherlands, Belgium, and northern
France. Germany, England and Spain –France. Germany, England and Spain –
other countries with a vibrant musical lifeother countries with a vibrant musical life

7. Characteristics ofCharacteristics of
Renaissance musicRenaissance music
Words and musicWords and music
• Vocal music is more important thanVocal music is more important than
instrumentalinstrumental
• MusicMusic enhancesenhances the meaning and emotion ofthe meaning and emotion of
the text.the text. Word painting:Word painting: musicalmusical
representation of specific poetic imagesrepresentation of specific poetic images
• Moderate, balanced way of expression: noModerate, balanced way of expression: no
extreme contrasts of dynamics, tone color orextreme contrasts of dynamics, tone color or
rhythmrhythm

8. Characteristics ofCharacteristics of
Renaissance musicRenaissance music
TextureTexture
• Chiefly polyphonic. 4, 5 or 6 voice partsChiefly polyphonic. 4, 5 or 6 voice parts
with equal melodic interestwith equal melodic interest
• Imitation is commonImitation is common
• Homophonic texture is also usedHomophonic texture is also used
• Fuller sound than medieval: bassFuller sound than medieval: bass
registerregister
• Mild and relaxed: consonant chords.Mild and relaxed: consonant chords.
• Golden age ofGolden age of a cappellaa cappella

9. Characteristics ofCharacteristics of
Renaissance musicRenaissance music
Rhythm and melodyRhythm and melody
 Rhythm is a gentle flow: Each melodic lineRhythm is a gentle flow: Each melodic line
has great rhythmic independencehas great rhythmic independence
 Melody usually moves along a scale withMelody usually moves along a scale with
few large leapsfew large leaps

10. Sacred music in the RenaissanceSacred music in the Renaissance
2 main forms: Motet and Mass2 main forms: Motet and Mass
 Motet – polyphonic choral work set to sacredMotet – polyphonic choral work set to sacred
Latin text other than the ordinary of the massLatin text other than the ordinary of the mass
 Mass – polyphonic choral work with 5 sections:Mass – polyphonic choral work with 5 sections:
• KyrieKyrie
• GloriaGloria
• CredoCredo
• SanctusSanctus
• Agnus DeiAgnus Dei

11. Josquin Desprez (1440-1521)Josquin Desprez (1440-1521)
and the Motetand the Motet
 A Flemish composer from Belgium,A Flemish composer from Belgium,
contemporary of Leonardo Da Vincicontemporary of Leonardo Da Vinci
and Columbusand Columbus
 Ave Maria…virgo serena:Ave Maria…virgo serena: 4-voice4-voice
motetmotet
 Texture is varied: polyphonic andTexture is varied: polyphonic and
homophonichomophonic
 Duple/triple meter changeDuple/triple meter change

12. Palestrina (1525-1594)Palestrina (1525-1594)
and the Massand the Mass
 Italian Renaissance composerItalian Renaissance composer
Giovanni Pierluigi da PalestrinaGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
 104 masses and some 450 other104 masses and some 450 other
sacred workssacred works
 For centuries, his masses areFor centuries, his masses are
regarded as models of church musicregarded as models of church music

13. Palestrina’sPalestrina’s Pope MarcellusPope Marcellus MassMass
 A capella choir SATTBBA capella choir SATTBB
 Kyrie – 1Kyrie – 1stst
section of the mass:section of the mass:
Kyrie EleisonKyrie Eleison
Christe EleisonChriste Eleison
Kyrie EleisonKyrie Eleison

14. Secular musicSecular music
 Vocal music: groups of solo voices with theVocal music: groups of solo voices with the
accompaniment. Word painting was commonaccompaniment. Word painting was common
 Madrigal – a piece for several solo voices set to aMadrigal – a piece for several solo voices set to a
short poem, usually about love. Combinesshort poem, usually about love. Combines
homophonic and polyphonic textures. Morehomophonic and polyphonic textures. More
unusual harmoniesunusual harmonies
 Originated in Italy around 1520. Became popularOriginated in Italy around 1520. Became popular
in England. English madrigals are lighter andin England. English madrigals are lighter and
more humorous than Italianmore humorous than Italian
 As Vesta Was DescendingAs Vesta Was Descending by Thomas Weelkesby Thomas Weelkes
(1575-1623), and organist and church composer(1575-1623), and organist and church composer

15. The Renaissance Ballet (Fa-La)The Renaissance Ballet (Fa-La)
 A simpler type of secular vocal musicA simpler type of secular vocal music
 A dance-like song for several voicesA dance-like song for several voices
 Mostly homophonic in structure. Fa-laMostly homophonic in structure. Fa-la
syllables are used as refrainsyllables are used as refrain
 Now Is the Month of MayingNow Is the Month of Maying (1595) by(1595) by
Thomas Morley (1557-1603), EnglishThomas Morley (1557-1603), English
composercomposer
 Each stanza:Each stanza:
AA – refrain – BB - refrainAA – refrain – BB - refrain

16. Instrumental musicInstrumental music
 Instrumental music becomes more independentInstrumental music becomes more independent
 Most music is for dance:Most music is for dance:
• Pavane or passamezzo– duple meterPavane or passamezzo– duple meter
• Galliard – triple meterGalliard – triple meter
 Harpsichord, organ, lute, recorder, trumpet,Harpsichord, organ, lute, recorder, trumpet,
cornett, sackbut (early trombone), viol, regalcornett, sackbut (early trombone), viol, regal
(small organ with reed pipes), shawm (ancestor(small organ with reed pipes), shawm (ancestor
of the oboe)of the oboe)
 Instrumental form of theme and variationsInstrumental form of theme and variations

17. The Venetian School:The Venetian School:
from Renaissance to Baroquefrom Renaissance to Baroque
 1616thth
century Venice – a center ofcentury Venice – a center of
instrumental and vocal musicinstrumental and vocal music
 Venetian School – music directorsVenetian School – music directors
and organists of St. Mark’s Cathedraland organists of St. Mark’s Cathedral
and their colleaguesand their colleagues

18. Giovanni Gabrieli (1555-1612)Giovanni Gabrieli (1555-1612)
and the polychoral motetand the polychoral motet
 The most important Venetian composer ofThe most important Venetian composer of
the late Renaissance before Monteverdithe late Renaissance before Monteverdi
 Polychoral motets – motets for 2 or morePolychoral motets – motets for 2 or more
choirs, often with instrumentalistschoirs, often with instrumentalists
 PlauditePlaudite (Clap Your Hands), 1597. Written(Clap Your Hands), 1597. Written
for a large vocal and instrumentalfor a large vocal and instrumental
ensemble of 12 voice parts divided into 3ensemble of 12 voice parts divided into 3
choirs: low, middle and high registerchoirs: low, middle and high register
choirschoirs
 The homophonic structure of this pieceThe homophonic structure of this piece
brings it closer to Baroque stylebrings it closer to Baroque style