Renaissance Music Overview

Josquin DesPrez

Franco-Flemish composer, one of the greatest of the Renaissance.

Renaissance Motet

Sacred vocal piece in Latin with points of imitation.

Frottola

Early 15th-century Italian secular vocal work.

Printing

Innovation by Petrucci in Venice in 1501 for music dissemination.

French Chanson

Simple polyphonic French song like Passereau's 'Il est bel et bon.'

Reformation

Religious movement leading to Luther's chorales and Calvin's psalms.

Counter Reformation

Catholic response to the Reformation, focused on the Council of Trent.

Palestrina

Italian composer aligned with Counter Reformation ideals, known for controlled polyphony.

Orlande de Lassus

Important Franco-Flemish contemporary of Palestrina, known for dramatic compositions.

Venice circa 1600

Musical hub with notable directors like Gabrieli and Monteverdi.

Vihuela Music

Spanish music for vihuela by composers like Luis de Narvaez and Alonso Mudarra.

Italian Madrigal

Secular vocal music with through-composed structure and word-painting.

Baldasar Castiglione

Author of 'The Courtier,' influencing the birth of the madrigal.

Early Madrigal

Starts from frottola, homophonic, with composers like J. Arcadelt.

Middle Madrigal

Evolution to 5 parts with more imitation, seen in C. de Rore's works.

Late Madrigal

Features increased chromaticism, not dissonance, with composers like L. Marenzio.