1. Early and Renaissance Music ? - 1600
Periods of Musical History

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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,

7. 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
Leonardo da Vinci
William Shakespeare
The first flushing toilet c.1591

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

9. Renaissance Instruments
Lute
Lyre
Sackbut
Hurdy gurdy

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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…

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

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

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