Renaissance Music PDF

MUSIC The term **renaissance** came from the word **renaitre** which means **rebirth, revival, rediscovery** This is a period of looking back to the golden age of Greece & Rome Renaissance period **(1400 -- 1600)** **Lute** was the **prominent instrument** during this era Secular music became m...

MUSIC The term **renaissance** came from the word **renaitre** which means **rebirth, revival, rediscovery** This is a period of looking back to the golden age of Greece & Rome Renaissance period **(1400 -- 1600)** **Lute** was the **prominent instrument** during this era Secular music became more prominent in the renaissance period. T'was also known as the golden age of acapella choral music. (secular is used for entertainment kind of music) Renaissance art and sculpture was **greatly influenced by humanism** (humanism is a philosophy which focuses on the mind, beauty, power of an individual rather than the supernatural) The **realism dominated the style of art and sculpture in this period. Realism features accurate human faces and bodies.** 4 popular artist in renaissance art: Leonardo da Vinci Michelangelo Raphael Donatello Characteristics of Renaissance music: Mostly polyphonic Imitation among the voices is common Use of word painting in texts and music Melodic lines move in a flowing manner Melodies are easier to perform because these move along a scale with a few large leaps **Vocal music of renaissance period:** - **Mass** - **Madrigal** **Mass** -- a form of ***sacred*** music that sets texts of the eucharistic liturgy to music Characteristics of mass: **Polyphonic** **May be sung as acapella or with archestral accompaniment** **Text may be syllabic, neumatic, or melismatic** Five main sections of mass : **kyrie** **gloria** **creda** **sanctus and benedictus** **agnus del** **Madrigal** -- A ***secular* polyphonic music** which originated from Italy. Written and expressed in a poetic text and sung during social gatherings. (the most important form during renaissance period) Characteristics of Madrigal: **Polyphonic** **Sung in acapella** **Through-composed** **Frequently in 3-6 voices** **Textures in music:** Monophonic Polyphonic Famous composers of renaissance period : Giovanni pierluigi da Palestrina -- majority sacred music Thomas marley - secular