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Medieval and Renaissance Periods c. 600 – c. 1600 Composers •Some of the main composers towards the end of this era are… John Dowland (1563 – 1626) Orlando Gibbons (1583 – 1625) William Byrd (1543 – 1623) Palestrina (c. 1525 – 1623) How would you expect the music from this era to sound? TONALITY: Modes Music at the time was not based on Major and Minor (these weren’t in ful use until the Baroque Period) Scales as we know them. It was based on modes. VOCAL MUISIC Divided into two sections: - SACRED (Religious music) - SECULAR (Non-Religious) Gregorian Chant/Plainsong Unaccompanied melody set to words of the Roman Catholic liturgy, such as the Mass. (Sacred) Plainchants are modal and have no regular metre. Mostly sung by Monks, they follow the rhythm of the Latin words. Plainsong is mostly Monophonic. It is often Melismatic Listen to the following example… Texture in Music Monophonic Homophonic Polyphonic Sacred Vocal Music Motet - This was a sacred choral work with Latin text and polyphonic texture, for several voices. It was usually sung a cappella. Antiphonal Music. Listen to the following example… Composers: Thomas Tallis wrote a Motet for 40 voices: ‘Spem in Alium’ and Giobanni Gabrielli wrote a Motet for two choirs Sacred Vocal Music Anthem - Short sacred choral piece sung in English. Sometimes sung by a choir unaccompanied and sometimes accompanied by organ and featuring solo parts. The anthem is the Protestant equivalent of the Motet. Listen to the following example… Mass • The Mass is a service of the Roman Catholic Church. • It is a large scale work, with a set Latin text in which composers over the years have set to Music. • The basic Mass consists of five main sections – 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Kyrie Gloria Credo Sanctus (and Benedictus) Agnus Dei Listen to the following example… Architecture of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci William Shakespeare Secular Vocal Music Madrigal - Normally a non-religious (secular) vocal piece for several voices, sometimes with instrumental accompaniment. It is polyphonic in style and uses imitation. Features of a Madrigal are - Listen to the following example… Secular Vocal Music Ballett - A type of madrigal in strophic form which was originally danced to. It features a fa-la-la refrain at the end of each verse. More lively and dance-like. (Now is the month of Maying) Listen to the following example… Air - English for Aria. Song or simple melody, either performed by instruments, or sometimes a solo singer accompanied by a Lute. Instruments Lute Recorders Viols Consort – A small group on instruments of the same family playing together, e.g. a consort of viols. The term usually applies to music from the Renaissance period. Instruments of the Renaissance Period Consort of viols Recorders Virginal Clavichord Renaissance Dances Pavan – a Renaissance court dance; slow and stately with two beats in the bar. PA – VAN 1 - 2 often linked with… Galliard – A Galliard is quick and lively with three beats in a bar . GA – LLI – ARD 1 - 2 - 3 Listen to the following examples… Other Concepts… Some other concepts which are features of this era are - Antiphonal - Dialogue between voices or instruments - one group of voices or instruments answers the other. In a live performance this would be on opposite sides of the room. Hemiola - A rhythmic device giving the impression of a piece of music changing from duple (2) to triple (3) time, or vice versa. Sometimes placed at the end of a piece to act as a kind of Rallentando. Tierce de Picardie - The final chord of a piece of music in the minor key is changed to major. Summary •By the end of this Unit, you should be familiar with the following Concepts - • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mode Gregorian Chant Plainsong Sacred Secular Madrigal Motet Mass Ballett A cappella Consort Pavan Galliard • • • • • • • • • • • • Monophonic Homophonic Polyphonic Strophic Through-Composed Air/Ayre Anthem Antiphonal Tierce de Picardie Hemiola Melismatic Syllabic