RCM History 10 - Renaissance

What does "Renaissance" mean, and what years does it span?

French for "rebirth"; spans ca. 1450-1600 in European history

What new harmonic language emerged in the Renaissance?

Greater use of thirds and sixths, triadic harmony within a modal context

Imitative counterpoint

A type of Renaissance polyphony in which a motive or theme is passed from one voice to another ("imitation")

Word painting

Compositional technique where the music reflects the meaning of the lyrics through musical devices; used in madrigals, operas, oratorios

What major technological invention impacted Renaissance music?

The invention of the printing press (by Johann Gutenberg, 15th century), which allowed wider distribution of music

Franco-Flemish School

Group of composers active in the 15th-16th centuries, mostly from Burgundy and the Low Countries; known for vocal polyphony and developed counterpoint in motet and Mass; leading figure was Josquin des Prez

What changed about the motet from the 13th to the 15th century?

It moved from polytextual (multiple texts) to using a single Latin text

15th-century Motet — characteristic features

Polyphonic, single Latin text, sacred but non-liturgical, usually 4 voices, imitative counterpoint contrasted with homorhythmic sections, new harmonic language (thirds/sixths)

Points of imitation

In imitative counterpoint, a series of thematic entries where a motive/theme passes from one voice to another

Homorhythmic texture

All voices in a multi-voice piece sing in the same rhythm, creating a chordal (homophonic) texture

Ave Maria…virgo serena — genre/composer/date

Motet, Josquin des Prez, 15th century; Latin text ("Hail Mary"); 4 voices, a cappella, polyphonic

Ave Maria…virgo serena — key features

Points of imitation (e.g. "Ave" passed top to bottom), homorhythmic sections, triadic harmony, abundant thirds/sixths

Josquin des Prez

Most renowned composer of the Franco-Flemish School; master of imitative counterpoint; sought to express text meaning; used modal harmony with triadic (3rds/6ths) sound

What new melodic sources did Renaissance composers use for Mass cantus firmus?

Secular songs, in addition to chant melodies; often combined with imitative counterpoint and homorhythmic textures

The Reformation

16th-century Christian reform movement in Europe led by Martin Luther; resulted in new Protestant denominations

Martin Luther

German priest who posted the "Ninety-Five Theses" (1517) on a Wittenberg church door, starting the Protestant Reformation; founded the Lutheran Church; translated the Bible into German; replaced elaborate polyphony with simple German chorales

Chorale

German monophonic hymn tune, easy to sing, introduced by Martin Luther so the congregation could participate in the service

The Counter-Reformation

Mid-16th-century Catholic Church response to the Protestant Reformation, aiming to win back support; led to the Council of Trent

Council of Trent

Series of meetings of top Catholic officials in Trento, Italy, addressing church reforms including liturgical music

What were the Council of Trent's recommendations for liturgical music?

Clear/intelligible text, less dense counterpoint, no instruments except organ, no secular cantus firmus, avoid virtuosic display

Missa Papae Marcelli (Gloria) — genre/composer

Mass, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina; polyphonic setting of the 5 Mass Ordinary movements; reflects Council of Trent ideals

Missa Papae Marcelli (Gloria) — key features

Monophonic opening intonation, 6 voices (SATB), syllabic/homorhythmic text setting for clarity, restrained/controlled imitation, a cappella

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Most important Catholic composer of the 16th century; associated with the Counter-Reformation; a cappella vocal polyphony balanced with homorhythmic/chordal texture; clear text setting; careful use of dissonance; wrote motets and masses

Madrigal

Popular secular vocal genre of the late Renaissance; intimate relationship between poetry and music; vivid word painting; through-composed

Madrigal — characteristic features

Through-composed, prominent word painting, increasing chromaticism

Nonsense syllables

Syllables with no meaning (e.g. "fa-la-la," "nonny-nonny-no"); characteristic of the English madrigal

Chromaticism

From Greek "khroma" (color); melodies/harmonies using notes beyond the home mode/key, within a tonal or modal context

Ballett

Italian for "little dance"; 16th-century Italian/English strophic song, dancelike, often with "fa-la-la" refrains; embraced by English madrigalists

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo — genre/composer

Madrigal, Carlo Gesualdo; Italian text; a cappella, polyphonic, 5 voices

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo — key features

Highly chromatic opening (nearly every half step of the octave in the first 4 measures); descending chromatic line represents death/grief

Carlo Gesualdo

Aristocratic Italian composer (Prince of Venosa); intensely emotional madrigals with extravagant word painting and exaggerated chromaticism/dissonance; wrote his own texts (guilt, remorse); infamous for murdering his wife and her lover

Musica transalpina

Latin for "Music from Beyond the Alps"; published in London, compiled by Nicholas Yonge; first printed collection of Italian madrigals (with English translations) in England

My Bonny Lass She Smileth — genre/composer

English madrigal (ballett), Thomas Morley; English text; a cappella, homophonic/polyphonic, 5 voices, strophic form

Thomas Morley

Leading composer of the English madrigal; known for madrigals/balletts with homorhythmic and contrapuntal textures, nonsense syllables, light-hearted character; keyboard music featured in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

Historically significant collection of early-17th-century English keyboard music, including William Byrd and Thomas Morley; idiomatic keyboard writing; fanciful titles (e.g. "The Carman's Whistle")

Variations (form)

A work stating a theme (melody) followed by a series of transformations of that theme

Harpsichord

Keyboard instrument; strings are plucked by small quills inside the instrument; often had two manuals

Virginal

Generic English term for plucked keyboard instruments

Idiomatic writing

Compositional style highlighting an instrument's unique technical capabilities; developed in the late Renaissance

The Carman's Whistle — genre/composer/form

Keyboard music (theme and variations), William Byrd; compound duple meter; Ionian mode (C major); from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

William Byrd

Important English virginal (keyboard) composer; well represented in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book; contributed to idiomatic keyboard style

What are the main textures found in Renaissance music?

Polyphonic, imitative counterpoint, and homophonic

What is the closer text-music relationship in the Renaissance often called when it depicts meaning directly?

Word painting