Transcript Document
Music History
The Renaissance
1450-1600
(rebirth)
Music History
D. Renaissance --- 1400 - 1600 AD
1. The definition of Renaissance is “REBIRTH”
*The most important invention during this time was the printing
press; this provided an easier way for writers and composers to
work
2. Sacred Music
a. motet
-The most important musical form of the Renaissance.
-This is the new name for polyphony
-Motets included up to four different vocal parts, and,
sometimes, they each had different words!!
“O Magnum Mysterium” Thomas Victoria
Music History
D. Renaissance --- 1400 - 1600 AD
2. Sacred Music (continued)
b. Catholic Mass
-This style of music is sung during the weekly Catholic
religious service known as the mass.
-music uses polyphony like motet, but the big
difference is in the words that are used. (The mass
always uses the same words)
Kyrie
Gloria
Order of the mass:
Credo
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Music History
D. Renaissance --- 1400 - 1600 AD
3. Secular Music
a. Secular music sounded a lot like sacred music
-The most common subject for secular music was
LOVE!!!!
b. Chanson --- French secular songs
c. Madrigal --- Italian secular songs
d. English Madrigal --- English secular songs
Music History
D. Renaissance --- 1400 - 1600 AD
4. The Reformation
a. The Catholic church becomes “reformed”
b. Several religious leaders break away from the Catholic
church to form new “denominations”
-Martin Luther - believed that all of the singing should
be in the COMMON LANGUAGE (from Germany)
Music History
D. Renaissance --- 1400 - 1600 AD
5. Instrumental Music
a. Mostly music for dancing at parties.
b. two most popular keyboard instruments were the
organ and the harpsichord.
c. most common household instrument was the lute.
d. The violin became an important instrument; The most
famous violin builder was Antonio Stradivari
Music History
D. Renaissance --- 1400 - 1600 AD
6. Important Composers
a. Josquin des Prez
-wrote both motets and masses
-from France
b. Giovanni Palestrina
-wrote mostly motets
-from Italy
c. Tomas Luis de Victoria
-wrote mostly motets
-from Spain
Music History
D. Renaissance --- 1400 - 1600 AD
7. One Transitional Composer
a. Claudio Monteverdi
-from Italy
-began by writing secular madrigals
-later in his life, he helped invent OPERA by
adding music to dramatic productions on stage.
-most famous opera:
L’Orfeo