Music History- Renaissance Period Terms List

Renaissance

The cultural revival in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century, marked by a renewed interest in classical learning and the arts.

Humanism

An intellectual movement that emphasized human potential and achievements, influencing art and music

Polyphony

A musical texture consisting of 2 or more independent melodic lines

Motet

A polyphonic choral work set to a sacred text and sung in Roman Catholic church services. Often unaccompanied with up to 6 separate voice parts.

Anthem

A piece of music written for a choir to sing at an Anglican church service. Unlike motets, anthems were sung in English and often accompanied by an organ.

Chanson

A french song, often secular, typically for voices. Instrumental Chanson- dance music

Secular music

Non-religious music

Sacred music

Music composed for religious purposes

Counterpoint

The relationship between voices that are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and contour.

Frotolla

An early form of Italian popular song, often lighthearted and strophic.

Strophic

Musical form where all text is set to the same repeating music

Frou-composed

No repeating content in the piece, opposite of strophic.

Madrigal

A secular vocal composition, usually for several voices, characterized by expressive text settings

Tavern song

Informal songs sung in social setting, often with drinking and merriment

instrumental music

music performed using instruments rather than voices

vocal music

music that primarily using human voices, with or without instrument accompaniment

Dance music

music written to accompany dancing

Consort

a group of instruments in the same family playing together

Lute

stringed instrument popular during the renaissance, used for both solo performances and accompaniment.

Harpsichord

Keyboard instrument with strings plucked by quills, widely used in renaissance music.

Ornamentation

the embellishment of a melody by adding decorative notes.

text painting

musical technique where the music reflects the literal music of the song’s lyrics

Cantus Firmus

a pre-existing melody used as the basis for a polyphonic composition

Mass

a form of sacred musical composition that sets the liturgy of the eucharist of music.

Choral music

music composed for a choir, encompassing both sacred and secular forms.

Renaissance Instruments

instruments commonly used during the renaissance, such as the recorder, viol, and sackbut

Improvisation

The art of creating music spontaneously, a skill valued during the renaissance.

Notation

The system of writing music so it can be read and performed.

Singing School

Institutions established during the Renaissance to teach music literacy and vocal techniques- Not associated to the church.

Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the creation of Protestant churches, influencing church music.

Council of Trent

A series of meetings in the Catholic church that addressed issues including the music of the mass, advocating for clarity in the scared texts. This happened because of reformation.

Vernacular language

The use of local language in music and texts, making them more accessible to the general population.

Liturgy

book of sacred text

Sackbut

early trombone