Music Of

The Renaiss

ance1400 – 1600 AD

“Renaissance," from Old French, meaning "rebirth," usually in a

spiritual sense.

The Renaissance period in western history was a cultural movement

that began in Florence, Italy in approximately 1400 A.D. and gradually spread through most

(but not all) of Europe.

The Renaissance marks the passing of European society from an

exclusively religious orientation to a more secular one, and from

an age of unquestioning faith and mysticism to one of belief in reason and scientific inquiry.

Types of Renaissance Music

Vocal Music:

As in the Medieval period, sacred vocal music (religious music that is sung) is still very prevalent in

the Renaissance.

But in addition to this, there is also a lot more non-sacred

(non-religious) music.

In addition to sacred music such as motets and masses, there is a new form of non-sacred vocal music in

the Renaissance called the madrigal.

Musical Example - Madrigal

John Farmer (English, 1570- 1605)"Fair Phyllis I Saw Sitting All Alone"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYbN_2hqFoI (2 min.)

Musical Example – Madrigal #2

The Silver Swan by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625; English)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfNmZ3LCrAY

The silver swan, who living had no note,

when Death approached, unlocked her silent throat.

Leaning her breast upon the reedy shore,

thus sang her first and last, and sang no more:

"Farewell, all joys! O Death, come close mine eyes!

More Geese than Swans now live,

more Fools than Wise."

Most Significant Musical Development During The Renaissance:

The rise of instrumental music was the most significant musical development

during the Renaissance. Music for groups of instruments was written to

accompany vocal music such as motets, as dance music, and also

as a pure form of art.

Important Renaissance Composers

• Josquin des Prez (Flemish; 1455-1521)

• Giovanni Palestrina (Italian; 1526-1594)

• Orlando de Lassus - Flemish; 1530-1594)

• William Byrd - (English; 1543-1623)

• Tomás Luis de Victoria (Spanish; 1548-1611)

• Giovanni Gabrieli - (Italian; 1553-1612)

• Michael Pretorius (German; 1571-1621)

• Orlando Gibbons - (English; 1583-1625)

After flourishing for 200 years, the Renaissance Period ended

in approximately 1600 AD, with the advent of the

Baroque Period of musical history.