The Renaissance

O The Renaissance Period occurred from 1400—1600. O The world of science advanced through the work of Galileo and Copernicus. O Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Duke, Cortez, Magellan, and DeSoto were exploring the world. O Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and William Shakespeare were on the scene.

Sacred Music O The sacred music of the Renaissance showed a natural outgrowth of plainsong. O The simple one line monophony or two-line polyphony was expanded to up to four different vocal parts, all of which were equally important. O The new vocal form was the motet. In this style, the music was more important than the text.

Josquin des Prez Giovanni Periluigi de Palestrina

The Renaissance O The rise of the middle class occurred during the Renaissance. O The nobility no longer possessed all of the wealth. O People began moving to cities and attending plays and concerts. O In 1450, the printing press was invented. Sheet music was printed and readily available for everyone. O This was a huge change from previous times, when only the religious and the royalty possessed sheet music.

Instruments of the Renaissance O By 1600, popular music of the day was available across Europe. O The middle class commonly played recorder, guitar, and lute. O Composers began writing polyphonic pieces just for instruments. O These pieces were written to accompany dancing.

Instruments of the Renaissance O Recorders and viols in all different sizes played together in groups called consorts. O Lutes, shawms, krummhorns, and small versions of trombones and trumpets were used in the Renaissance.

Secular Music O Madrigals, songs for small groups of voices performed either with instrumental accompaniment or a capella, became the most popular form of secular music. Madrigals O Madrigals were usually about love. O King Henry VIII of England was a fan of madrigals and had them sung at feasts and weddings. O They often consisted of verses with repeated choruses, much like the music of today!

Monophony and Polyphony O In the Early Middle Ages, monophonic music was the most common form of music. O Monophony--of a single unaccompanied melody. O The last six centuries of the Medieval Period allowed for the development of polyphony. O Polyphony—more than one melody at the same time. O Renaissance composers broadened the Medieval polyphony and used instruments to accompany vocal music.

Sacred Music O The most popular form of sacred music the motet. O Motet’s were generally polyphonic and written for chorus. O While there are a few secular motets, they are predominately sacred, but not specifically connected to the liturgy of the day. O This is different from plainsong of previous eras, which always were written for use in liturgy or the Mass. O Motets for 5 Voices--Palestrina Motets for 5 Voices--Palestrina

Giovanni Periluigi de Palestrina O Italian composer and priest (1525—1594) O As a youth, he traveled the 20 miles from Palestrina, his home town, to Rome in order to be a choir boy. O Later in life, he had homes in both Rome and Palestrina.

Map from Palestrina to Rome

Giovanni Periluigi de Palestrina O In Rome, the Catholic Church was concerned about sacred music becoming too similar to secular music. O After considering banning music in the church altogether, the church asked Palestrina and other composers to write music for use in the church. O Palestrina composed 104 masses and 375 motets for use in the church.

Giovanni Periluigi de Palestrina O His musical life also included membership of the Sistine Choir in the Vatican. O He served many places as organist and choirmaster. O His tomb in the Church of St. Peter in Rome reads “Prince of Music” O Gloria from Pope Marcellus Mass—Palistrina Gloria from Pope Marcellus Mass—Palistrina O One of Palestrina's most famous Masses.

Josquin Des Prez O French composer of the early Renaissance devoted his life (1440—1521) to writing sacred music. O By the time he began to compose, polyphony was common. O Josquin learned how to compose from his teacher, Johannes Ockeghem. O Josquin became a better polyphonic composer than his teacher by giving his own polyphonic music expression and flow.

Josquin des Prez O Ave Maria—Josquin des Prez Ave Maria—Josquin des Prez O What do you hear?

Reformation O Around 1500, many people began to break away from the Roman Catholic Church. O This era was called the Reformation. O New Protestant church formed and had songs written for singing by the whole congregation, not just the choir. O This new chorale style became the basis for many hymns that are still sung in churches today.

Andrea GabrieliGiovanni Gabrieli

The Gabrielis O Andrea Gabrieli (1510—1586) and his nephew Giovanni Gabrieli (1556—1612) are famous for using instruments in sacred choral music. O Both served as organist at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. O Before this time, all sacred music in church was sung a capella.

The Gabrielis O They further experimented and developed sacred choral music by dividing singers into several choirs and placing them in different parts of the cathedral. O Having all of the choirs sing at the same time from their areas provided a stereo sound. O This is called antiphonal music.

O Magnum Mysterium— Giovanni Gabrieli