1. Renaissance Period

2. Society Church less powerful because of reformation Humanism Printing press spread learning Educated people taught music Musical activity shifted to courts Composers sought credit for work

3. Words and music Music to enhance meaning of text Word painting

4. Texture Chiefly polyphonic: 4-6 important voices Homophony (in dances) Bass register used: richer harmony Stable chords with triads - The increasing reliance on the interval of the third as a consonance is one of the most pronounced features of early Renaissance imitation A cappella—little accompaniment cantus firmus

5. Rhythm and melody Rhythm a gentle flow, not sharp beat Rhythmic independence between lines Melody – smooth, few large leaps

6. Sacred Music The Early Renaissance Mass Rise of polyphony Composers concentrated on the Ordinary of the Mass Kyrie Gloria Credo Sanctus Agnus Dei Use of cantus firmus (fixed melody)

7. Guillaume Du Fay The L’homme arme Mass Use of a popular tune (L’homme arme) as its basis (long notes in tenor line) Use of 5 th and octaves as well as intervals of 3 rd and 6 th Overall 4 voice polyphonic texture Each part begins with fewer than 4 voices then adds the tenor part with the popular tune in long notes

8. Motet Became a sacred form of music A single Latin text Used in the Mass and other religious services Motets in praise of Mary were very popular

9. Josquin des Prez Ave Maria... virgo serena (Hail Mary... gentle virgin) 4 voice motet Opening of motet uses imitative voice entrances.

10. The Late Renaissance Mass The reformation The counter reformation Work with the poor Efforts to combat heresy (Jesuits) Council of Trent The Council of Trent – to regulate religious discipline, including music – worried about: The corruption of traditional chants Extravagant embellishments Objected to certain instruments Incorporating popular songs into Mass Debated the use of polyphony

11. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Pope Marcellus Mass begins with a monophonic intonation of the opening line the remaining is polyphonic the words are clear and audible a cappella style

12. Sacred music Josquin des Prez Flemish composer Motet = polyphonic choral work set to a sacred Latin text Wrote Ave Maria…Virgo Serena Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 16th century Italian composer, music director for St. Peter’s Wrote for Catholic church Pope Marcellus Mass convinced polyphony okay