RENAISSANCE MUSIC UNIT6th Grade General Music

THE RENAISSANCE (1450-1600) Important development in music,

science, religion, and technology compared to the Medieval period

Renaissance period known as “the enlightenment” and “rebirth”

IMPORTANT INVENTIONS/TECHNOLOGY Weapons for war Better sanitation

Still a problem – Black Plague (Ring Around the Rosie)

Printing press

PRINTING PRESS• Printing Press, created in 1450• Johannes Gutenberg (c.1398-1468)

CHURCH SERVICES Break from the Roman

Catholic church – new reforms King Henry VIII and the

Church of England Congregation allowed to

sing with the choir Choir still consisted of

only boys and men.

LANGUAGES Travel became prominent Latin services Music in languages of the people (Italian,

English, French, Spanish, German, etc)

PEOPLE OF THE RENAISSANCE NO middle class Mostly peasant farmers and the rich Betrothals (arranged marriages) for

wealthy families’ No silverware for eating mostly meats

and starches Bathing happened about twice a year

TYPES OF MUSIC Sacred Secular Instrumental

Instruments became acceptable in churches

INSTRUMENTS Shwam Recorder Hurdygurdy Sacbut Lute Virginal Hand Drum Viol

VOCAL MUSIC POLYPHONY Each voice had its own line and melody Layered upon each other to create one song Different rhythms, making each line

individual HOMOPHONY Voices moving in chords together HARMONY Chords were created, tension and resolution

MOTET -- SACRED Sacred music found in

the church that was polyphonic

Vocal music Example: Kyrie by

Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina

MADRIGAL -- SECULAR Polyphonic vocal music that was secular Usually written about “courtly love” or funny

topics (satire, court commentary) Example: April Is In My Mistress’ Face by

Thomas Morely

MUSIC OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH Music became a form of entertainment Traveling musicians Composers became prominent – monks

were not the only ones composing! King Henry VIII wrote Greensleeves

Music found in court and in common places

WORD PAINTING Melody tried to represent words For example, if the word “quiet” was in

a song, how would it sound? “Up and Down?”

POPULAR COMPSOSERS Michael Praetorious (1571-1621), Germany

Es ist ein Ros (Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming) Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594), Italy

Ricercar del primo tuonoJosquin Des Pres (1450 - 1521), France

Come peult, Absolon filli mi

RENAISSANCE COMPOSERS Johann Christoph Pezel (1639-1694), Germany

Sarabande Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1554-1612), Italy

Sacrae symphoniae No. 13 Canzon septimi ocatavi toni a 12

John Farmer (c. 1560-?), England Fair Phyllis

INSTRUMENTAL DANCE MUSIC Music used as entertainment outside of

the church Background music for feasts Choreographed dances

FORM ABACA Similar to modern day songs… A being

similar to a chorus or refrain B and C is new and different material “Rondo form”