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Renaissance Music Online Lesson |
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An
introduction to Renaissance Music: Lesson 1
| Renaissance
music takes it name from 'rebirth'.
The renaissance was a time for growth in
music and art. It was also a time of
renewed interest in exploring all aspects of
living. Musically, vocal music was the
most important and polyphonic
music began to grow. New ideas were
being explored! Renaissance men were
convinced that theirs was an age both
different from and better them immediately
preceding times: The world is coming to
its senses as if awaking out of a deep sleep
(Eramus). The whole temper of the age
was optimistic and buoyant. |
| Renaissance
music originated and developed most fully in
Italy and then gradually spread in modified
forms. It reached English music
towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth I.
The High-Renaissance of the fifteenth and
early sixteenth centuries saw the careers of
such important artists and writers as
Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo,
Raphael, Cellini, Ariosto and Machiavelli.
New ideas did not entirely replace the old
one. Many Medieval characteristics
remained and developed. However some
were abolished and opposed, such as the
pagan tendencies (witchcraft), by the
Catholic Church in Italy after the middle of
the sixteenth century. |
| By
the end of the 16th century, music was
becoming very popular and both church (sacred)
and non religious (secular)
music were becoming more popular as they
freed themselves from the restrictive techniques
of Medieval music. |
| The
scared music that was composed was for the
Catholic Church. Much of this music
survived only by manuscripts that were used
in the great cathedrals and monasteries of
Europe. Some instruments may have been
used, but the music was primarily for a
cappela choir. Renaissance
sacred music was an extension of the Gregorian
Chant from the Medieval period, a
style of music also unaccompanied by
instruments. The texts were the same
as in Gregorian Chant: the Roman liturgy
sang in Latin. |
| Thus,
composers continued to live as they had done
in the Middle Ages (Medieval Times).
Composers still depended on employment from
the monarchs. As before the chief
patronage (support) was from the Church; but
steadily growing support came from secular
sources as well. The number of
professional musicians and interested
amateurs increased. The effects
resulted in more instrumental and secular
music. As more people began to play
and sing, a new kind of writing about music
appeared. |
| Manuals
of instructions for plays and singers became
important and musical studies were
published. The rise of music printing
was one of the main reasons for the growth
in music. Much printed music of this
time was printed in the form of part books -
one small volume, usually of oblong format,
for each voice or part. Part books
were primarily for use at home or in social
gatherings. Most church choirs
continued to use large handwritten choir
books. |
| The
earliest printed ensemble score, with bar
lines, appeared in 1557. However,
short musical examples in score are found in
printed theoretical treatises from 1537 on.
Printing inevitably gave a plentiful supply
of new music. Instead of handwritten
scores, with errors and variants, musicians
could now buy scores that were slightly
cheaper and with a uniform accuracy. |
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Some
key words:
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| Polyphonic |
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Many
parts playing together and
overlapping each other. |
| Secular |
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Non
religious music |
| Sacred |
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Religious
music |
| Techniques |
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The
rules and forms of music composition |
| A
capella |
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Sung
without any accompaniment by
instruments |
| Gregorian
Chant |
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From
the Medieval period, a traditional
melody to which text of the Roman
Catholic Church is set. The
music is monophonic - musical
texture that has only a single
melody line without any supporting
harmony/chords. |
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