PRAXIS 5114 Renaissance

Renaissance Return

Rebirth. Following the Middle Ages, a movement that centered on the revival of interest in the classical learning of Greece and Rome

Martin Luther

A German monk who became one of the most famous critics of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1517, he wrote 95 theses, or statements of belief attacking the church practices.

Wrote "Ein Feste Burg" (1529)

Kept mass and motet but changed singing to chorale; easily sung, metric, slow and even, syllabic, German, easily harmonized

The Counter Reformation

The reaction of the Roman Catholic Church to the Reformation reaffirming the veneration of saints and the authority of the Pope (to which Protestants objected). The proceedings almost led to the banning of most music.

Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina

(1525-1594) Felt duty to compose in Counter Reformation, Pope's singer in choir- dedicated to religious music.

Composed “Missa Papae Marcelli”: Polyphonic, homorhythmic ideas, syllabic entrances, text almost lines up, declamation

Renaissance Secular Music

Lively rhythms, secular text, language of the vernacular, improv and non specified instrumentation

Notre Dame School

Pioneering French school for Organum. Origin of Gaude Maria Virgo.

Francesco Landini

(1325-1397) Famous Italian composer who wrote Ecco La Primavera.

Cantus Firmus Mass

Tenor part unites the sections as the Cantus Firmus

Guillame DuFay

Early composer of Renaissance Music. Belief that church music still needs to be tranquil and include chant and polyphony. Composed L’homme Arme mass (very controversial).

16th Century Motet

Basis of modern motets. Sacred composition w/Latin Text and sections of imitative polyphony alternating with (often homorhythmic) homophony. Brief sections of polyphony imitated. No set place in liturgy, but could be during offertory, communion, or at end.

Josquin Desprez

(c. 1440-1521) Singer who wanted Expressiveness and Beauty to be a focus of his compositions. Composed Ave Maria… virgo serena.

Jacques Arcadelt

(1556-1613) Early/mid composer of Madrigals. Helped to popularize and spread Madrigals around Europe.

Italian vs English Madrigals

• Italian Madrigals: Favorite of Italian courts. Short compositions set to 1 stanza of poetry (and usually pastoral themed). Used heavy word painting.

• English Madrigals: Popular in late 16th Century. Used translated texts. True English madrigals were usually simpler than Italian

John Farmer

(f. 1591-1601). Composer of English madrigals. Wrote Fair Phyllis.

Instrumental Music of the Renaissance

Mostly written for dancing. Instruments included Crumhorns (buzzy), Sackbuts (Trombones), Cornettos/Cornetts.

Basilica San Marco of Venice

Aka St. Mark’s Basilica. Perfect setup for polychoir/antiphonal music. Instruments slowly introduced (Cornet → Sackbut → String Instruments) to support choir

Giovanni Gabrielli

(c. 1557-1612): Master of Music for St. Mark’s. Wrote for choirs and instruments. Combined late Renaissance and early Baroque. Noted in the score which instruments are to be used + dynamics.

Major Compositions of the Renaissance Period

• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

  • Notable Composition: "Missa Papae Marcelli" (Mass setting)

• Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585)

  • Notable Composition: "Spem in alium" (40-part motet)

• Josquin des Prez (c. 1450-1521)

  • Notable Composition: "Ave Maria... virgo serena" (Motet)