Transcript Josquin
Please Take Handout & Sit in First 5 Rows By Voice Type: Front Alto Bass Soprano Tenor Josquin des Prez, Ave Maria . . . Virgo serena (motet) DA VINCI MICHAELANGELO GALILEO JOSQUIN DES PREZ The notes must do as he wills . . . as for other composers, they must do as the notes wish. Martin Luther Twin goals: 1. Why was (and is) Josquin so admired? 2. Understand musical language of the mid-Renaissance 1. Born in North ca. 1455//Service in Italy by 1480s 2. Flourishes ca. 1500, as music print culture flourishes 3. Confluence: migration + technology forges musical language of the High Renaissance 1. Northern Traits (Old-Fashioned) •Solve technical problem: how to write complex polyphony while controlling dissonance 2. Italian Traits (More Modern) •Memorable melody/full, consonant harmony •music reflects verbal text: 1. Born in North ca. 1455//Service in Italy by 1480s 2. Flourishes ca. 1500, as music print culture flourishes 3. Confluence: migration + technology forges musical language of the High Renaissance Intellectual Humanistic 1. Northern Traits (Old-Fashioned) •Solve technical problem: how to write complex polyphony while cantore controlling dissonance El grillo è buon The cricket is a good singer che tiene longo verso. He can hold a long note 2. Italian Traits (More Modern) •Memorable melody/full, consonant harmony sound,drink, sense,cricket, structure Dale beve grillo Go ahead, sing! •musiccanta. reflects verbal text: 3. North/South synthesis spread via music printing A. Point of Imitation 1. Defined •Section of Renaissance work ≈ phrase •Based on short verbal text •That text set to musical motive •Motive presented successively (in imitation) by 2 or more voices 2. Musical results of P.O.I. •Musical unity •Control dissonance more easily •Word-music “fit” easier •Overlapping points create seamless flow A. Point of Imitation B. ??????: II. Musical Style of the “Josquin Generation” Mid- or High Renaissance (ca. 1490-1550) A. Point of Imitation B. ??????: Block Homophonic Texture: •O Mater Dei, memento mei. Amen O Mother of God, be mindful of me. Amen. Triple meter 4 short phrases: one for each line of poetry Sounds like Block Homophonic Texture ????? 1 Ave vera virginitas, Hail true virginity, 2 Immaculata castitas, Immaculate chastity, 3 Cujus purificatio Whose purification 4 Nostra fuit purgatio. Was to be our purgation. II. Musical Style of the “Josquin Generation” Mid- or High Renaissance (ca. 1490-1550) A. Point of Imitation B. ??????: Canon and Strict Imitation •Josquin was master of imitative compositon C. Cantus firmus technique •Composition incorporates pre-existing melody •Borrowed melody usually secular •Now found in tenor (inner) voice The man, the armed man should be feared! Everywhere it is proclaimed that each man should arm himself with a coat of iron mail. each man should arm himself with a coat of iron mail II. Musical Style of the “Josquin Generation” Mid- or High Renaissance (ca. 1490-1550) A. Point of Imitation B. Canon and Strict Imitation •Josquin was master of imitative compositon C. Cantus firmus technique •Composition incorporates pre-existing melody •This “borrowed” melody usually secular •Now found in tenor (inner) voice D. Sogetto cavatto Sogetto cavatto delle vocali =lit. “subject carved” from the vowels Sogetto cavatto Ren. Scale= Ut, re, mi, fa, so, (la) Her- cu- les Dux Fer- ra- ri- ae Re ut re re ut re fa mi Non vivam ultra, sed descendam in infernum plorans (2x) I shall live no longer, but descend into Hell, weeping. Josquin des Prez Josqin: Petite camusette Robin and Marian entered a beautiful wood. Arm in arm, they went, and fell asleep.