Rennacaince Power Point

TS307 Week 7

Music in the Renaissance Era

1450-1600

Sociological Stuff - 1450-1600

Renaissance = 'rebirth' of human creativity, discovery and individualism

Focus on human life and it's accomplishments

Painters/sculptors were more 'down-to-earth' - not so concerned with the after life

'Humanism' - previously the nude human body was an object of shame and concealment in the middle ages

Sociological Stuff - 1450-1600

Big influences from Greece and Rome

Catholic Church was weaker now - they didn't monopolise learning as before. Now Aristocrats & upper middle class hired scholars to teach their kids

Invention of printing and typing spread learning

Musical stuff - 1450-1600

Horizons of music increased....

More performers; more composers; greater circulation of music

Musicians continued to work in churches, courts and towns

Greater demand for music in weddings, civic processions and religious services

Choirs became larger

Greater demand for music in the courts - Kings, Princes & Dukes

1 court may have up to 60 musicians employed

Court music director - wrote secular music for nobility - sacred music for the church

Often travelled from castle to castle, taking their musicians with them

Musical Characteristics - Renaissance Era 1450-1600

Vocal music still more prominent than instrumental

Close relationship between words and music - word painting

Music tended to be expressed in a calm, moderate and balanced way - no extremes

Mostly polyphonic - 4-6 vocal parts in a typical choral piece

Melodic imitation is common

'Fuller' - larger range (up to 4 octaves)

Lots of stable, constant chords, not much dissonance

Rhythm/melody - gentle and flowing

Sacred Music - Renaissance Era 1450-1600

2 main types: Mass; Motet

Motet - polyphonic choral work set to sacred latin text that is not part of the mass service

Mass - divided into 5 sections:

Kyrie

Gloria

Credo

Sanctus

Agnus Dei

Josquin Desprez (1440-1521)

Born in Hainaut (today part