Early and Renaissance Music ? - 1600 Periods of Musical History

A quick guide to getting the most information from this presentation… All concepts are in bold Important information in blue

Early and Renaissance Music In music, the word renaissance is used to describe music composed or performed between 1450 – 1600. Music composed or performed earlier than 1450 may be referred to as early or medieval music.

Early and Renaissance Music The word renaissance literally means rebirth, the name is appropriate to the time as there was a keen interest in learning and culture. Most of this learning was based on the ideas expressed by the ancient Greeks and the Romans.

Renaissance Music The period of classical music from approximately 1450 – 1600 Renaissance style places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry. Sacred choral music remained as the most important music Composers began experimenting with writing Secular music

History Music was written in modes There were few instruments and the most prevalent were string instruments known as ‘Viols’ Some brass and woodwind instruments were used, such as; sackbut, cornett, shawm Some important composers were Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons,

A little perspective… 1492 Columbus “discovers” North America 1431 Joan of Arc burned at the stake Scotch whisky was invented Psychiatric hospitals introduced Printing press c.1450 1452-1519 Leonardo da Vinci 1564-1616 William Shakespeare The first flushing toilet c.1591

Renaissance Composers William Byrd Thomas Tallis Orlando Gibbons Giovanni Palestrina Claudio Monteverdi

Renaissance Instruments Lute Lyre Sackbut Hurdy gurdy

Modes Early and renaissance music was composed using a system of modes, modes are an early version of the major and minor scale systems we use today. This means that the music from this period is modal. It is easy to identify which mode a melody is written in, all you have to do is look at the note which the melody begins and ends on, and the range of the melody.

Sacred and Secular Some of the greatest pieces of music from the renaissance period were sacred. This means they were composed for the church and worship. Although sacred music was very popular, composers began to experiment with secular music, this is non religious music, which was commonly used for entertainment and dancing.

Gradual Viderunt omnes Plainchant Plainchant is an unaccompanied style of singing which has no regular time signature as it follows the natural rhythm of the words. Gradual Viderunt omnes

Five Sections of the Mass Sanctus & Benedictus Kyrie Agnus Dei Credo Gloria The mass is one of the largest forms of sacred music from this period. It is best described as a sacred piece of choral music, which uses the six main sections of the Roman Catholic liturgy.

Missa Papae Marcelli (Agnus Dei) Main features of a Mass Here are some ways to help identify a mass from the renaissance period… A mass uses Latin text Polyphonic texture Sung a capella Plainchant Missa Papae Marcelli (Agnus Dei)

Motet A motet is a sacred choral work from the renaissance period, it has very similar features to that of a mass, however it does not use religious text that is directly linked to the liturgy, so it may be used in any church service. Sung a capella Polyphonic texture Written for chorus Haec Dies

Anthem Besides the great many motets and masses composed for the Catholic church services, some composers wrote anthems to be sung during Protestant services. Sung in English NOT Latin Performed by a full choir Unaccompanied However on some occasions the anthem may have been performed with soloists and accompanied by a consort of viols. If Ye Love Me

Madrigal The madrigal is a secular piece of music which became popular when a collection of Italian madrigals with English words were published in England in 1588. Through-composed Performed a capella Imitation Polyphonic texture Word painting Fair Phyllis

Word Painting There is close association between words ad music in a madrigal, and the composer would use every opportunity to introduce word painting. This is where the music illustrates the words being sung, for example…

Word painting A good example of word painting is illustrated in the madrigal As Vesta was from Latmos Hill Descending by Thomas Weelkes, shown below: WORD PAINTING

Now is the month of Maying Ballett The ballett was developed from the madrigal, originally it was danced as well as sung, and has a distinctive dance rhythm. Strophic (opposite of the madrigal) “Fa la la” refrain Homophonic Now is the month of Maying

Ayre Another type of vocal music which developed from the madrigal was the ayre. An ayre is in strophic form could be performed in a variety of ways: By solo voice with a lute accompaniment Voices with a consort of viols Voices alone Flow my tears

Ayre An example of ayre sheet music, the music was printed in three directions so that all performers, seated around a table, may share the same copy of the music.

Pavan – The Earl of Salisbury Dance Music Pavan Slow Stately 2 beats in the bar Galliard Quick Lively 3 beats in the bar Galliard

Consort A group of instruments all from the same family playing together.