The Renaissance The Renaissance 1450-1600 1450-1600

Renaissance – A New Birth

Began in 1450 – Invention of the Printing Press

Ended in 1600

An age of discovery and exploration

Renaissance Timeline

Changing Attitudes

The beginning of a gradual decline in the church’s influence in Europe

A period of exploration and questioning in almost all activities Musically, this meant more freedom for

composers and performers

Changing Attitudes Observation became the basis for

modern scientific method As opposed to the absolute authority of

the Church. Ex – Galileo Pleasurable aspects of sensory

experience became important guidelines in the arts. Music did not necessarily have to “do”

anything, but was appreciated on a sensory level

Characteristics of the Renaissance

Humanism—The dominant intellectual movement of the Renaissance, humanism focused on human life, experiences, and accomplishments, replacing the medieval focus on religious doctrine and the afterlife.

Exploration—This Age of Exploration saw voyages of discovery and conquest by Columbus, Magellan, and many others.

Characteristics of the Renaissance

Classicism—The “rediscovery” of the language, literature, philosophy, art, and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome fascinated people of the Renaissance.

Reformation—The power of the Catholic Church was profoundly shaken by Protestant reformers. Key figures were Martin Luther, Jean Calvin, and King Henry VIII. The Counter-Reformation was the church’s response.

Characteristics of the Renaissance

Interest in Education—The rise of secular power meant the rise of education outside the church. Aristocrats and the upper middle class hired scholars to educate their children.

Art in the Renaissance Religious subjects still important Increase in secular paintings and sculptures Inspired by Greek and Roman art,

Renaissance artists depicted the world around them with new clarity and perspective. This golden age of art and architecture boasts the creations of artists such as Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Titian, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.

Music in the Renaissance The discoveries of Pythagoras (tuning and

ratios in music) were reexamined and expanded for the first time in centuries.

The Greek philosophers and their ideas about music and expression were taken to heart by some late Renaissance composers.

Renaissance composers explored music’s pleasurable, expressive qualities, as opposed to the intellectual, mannered qualities prized by ars nova composers.

The Renaissance composer…

favors beautiful, a cappella sonorities uses consonant harmonies carefully controls dissonance mixes textures increasingly attempts to express

feelings (Joy, Sadness, etc.)

A reaction to Machaut and others

Listen to Machaut – Music had become very complex

Complex polyphony, difficult to understand the words

These traits began to appear in church music

How bad did it get?

“There does not exist a single piece of music, not composed within the last forty years, that is regarded by the learned as worth hearing.” – Johannes Tinctoris (1435 – 1511)

Tinctoris studied music and music theory.

Dufay and Early Homophonic Music

“Ave maris stella” (harmonization of plainchant hymn)

A-A-A form (each verse is the same) odd verses sung as chant even verses

use paraphrase use homophonic setting

Paraphrasing – building on chant

values melodic character of chant (unlike medieval organum) gives it specific meter & rhythm

embellishes it emphasizes the sensuous aspect of

chant

Early homophony paraphrased melodies emphasized in

top voice (beginning of treble dominated style)

supporting polyphonic voices create simple chords

result is plainchant harmonization sounds homophonic emphasizes sonorous effect of rich

chords

Banning music in the Church

Composers began to integrate secular melodies into church music

Music was so complex (ex. Machaut) that the words were impossible to follow.

Counter-Reformation

Council of Trent, 1545The Catholic Church’s response to the

Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther; considered reforming worship and practices of the Church

Also considered banning complex polyphonic music

Palestrina, Pope Marcellus Mass (1557)

Marcellus was Pope for only 3 weeks before he died. According to legend, Palestrina used this opportunity to demonstrate that the new compositional techniques – polyphony and homophony – could be appropriate for worship.

The Pope Marcellus Mass was an instant classic and is still performed today.

Palestrina, Pope Marcellus Mass

melodies are simpler, more singable harmonies are richer modes are similar rhythms are simpler textures mix homophony and

polyphony tone color is richer—six voices a

cappella

About the Mass

Mass became standardized as a multi-movement musical form during the Renaissance period Kyrie Gloria Credo Sanctus Agnus Dei

Josquin Desprez: Para lingua Mass (tr 8-9)

Intended for worship Used music to express ideas and feelings Uses imitation and sequence: melodic

voices enter one after another on different pitches to create a of polyphonic texture

Instead of competing, the voices take turns vying for attention

Other Renaissance techniques: Accurate Declamation

Accurate declamation – using rhythms to replicate natural speech

Melismatic music was no longer in favor

declamation = the manner in which words are set to music

accurate = rhythms closely match natural speech

Word Painting

musical illustration of the meaning of a word or phrase

rapid notes for words like “run” or “fly”

high notes of upward leaps for words like “up” or “lift”

dissonance for words like “grief,” “cruel,” “harsh,”

Listen: Woelkes, “As Vestas…” (tr 12)

Examples of Word Painting: “running” – rapid notes

“two by two” – duet “three by three” – trio“all alone” – solo

Instrumental music in the Renaissance

Listen – Daphne Listen – Kemp’s Jig

Stylized dance music - originally intended for dancing, but eventually written to be listened to and not necessarily for dancing