Renaissance Music History PDF

The Renaissance: 1400-1600 5–1 Historical Context n "Renaissance" literally means "rebirth.“ u n Term first used in 1855 Revival of interest in humanistic values of classical Greece and Rome Enduring human value in the arts u More interest in the real world than in spirituality u Discovery and emula...

The Renaissance: 1400-1600 5–1 Historical Context n "Renaissance" literally means "rebirth.“ u n Term first used in 1855 Revival of interest in humanistic values of classical Greece and Rome Enduring human value in the arts u More interest in the real world than in spirituality u Discovery and emulation of Ancient Art u « Except Music 5–2 Scientific Development n Invention of Printing Press u n Johannes Gutenberg, 1440 Invention of Telescope/Microscope u Purbach(1423-1461), Copernicus(1473-1543), Kepler (1571-1630), Galileo(1564-1642) 5–3 Musical Unification n Widespread ease of travel/communication Printing Press u Growth of Holy Roman Empire during Habsburg dynasty u 5–4 Musical Characteristics n Aurally pleasing definition of consonance/dissonance 3rds and 6ths are now consonant u 4ths are now dissonant u n n n n Carefully controlled dissonances First use of triadic harmonies Imitative Polyphony is most pervasive texture Overall sound is smoother and more homogeneous 5–5 Early Renaissance n John Dunstable (1390-1453) English composer u Influential throughout European continent u Veni Sancte Spiritus u n Guillame Dufay (1397-1474) B. Northern France u Traveled extensively u Used “faux bourdon” u « Missa Sancti Jacobi: Post Communio 5–6 Mid-Renaissance 5–7 Mid-Renaissance n n n Imitation established as primary compositional techniques Development of “ars perfecta” Josquin Desprez becomes emblematic Renaissance composer 5–8 Josquin Desprez n n B. Northern France The pre-eminent Renaissance composer Famous during lifetime u Embodied Renaissance ideals u n “ars perfecta” u A perfected artistic style that could not be improved 5–9 Josquin Desprez n Music is moving towards an art form u n Science rhetoric art Plagarism/Misappropriation Josquin made reputation (esp. posthumous) on publication u 14 masses, 117 motets, 36 secular songs – Listed as doubtful or misappropriated u n Patronage u Served Duke of Milan and later Duke of Ferrara 5–10 n Ave Maria... Virgo serena Points of Imitation u Carefully controlled dissonance u Smooth, homogeneous sound u n Pange Lingua Mass – Kyrie Listen for the plainchant influence u Paired Imitation u Overlapping cadences u Listening Guide in Chapter 5, Section 5 u 5–11 Late Renaissance n n n n Music of the Reformation Counter-Reformation Secular Song Closing Thoughts 5–12 Music of the Reformation n Lutherans Luther admired the music of Josquin u Liturgy patterned after Catholic liturgy u « u n Sung in vernacular Emphasis placed on communal worship Other Protestant leaders rejected music in worship John Calvin banned instrumental music u Ulrich Zwingli banned liturgical music altogether u n English Reformation was politically driven 5–13 Counter-Reformation n Catholic response to the entrenchment of Protestantism u Council of Trent In music, textual clarity became primary focus « Proposed move back to simple plainchant « u Palestrina “Savior of Polyphony” « Pope Marcellus Mass « 5–14 Secular Song n Madrigal Polyphonic, secular vocal work from the Renaissance and Early Baroque u Heavy emphasis on “Text painting” u Topics often include love, nature, war, etc… u Two Madrigals by Thomas Morley u « Listening Guide from Chapter 5, Section 7 5–15 Closing Thoughts n n n “Ars Perfecta” Reformation Music did change, but all change was considered a distortion u Baroque – “misshapen pearl” 5–16