Music of the Renaissance The birth of polyphony & the era of melancholy

Music of the Renaissance

The birth of polyphony

& the era of melancholy

Addition of PartsRead pg. 293-294Movement from monophony

to polyphonyPolyphony: many sounds

Multiple musical lines together 2 or more separate voices or parts

Josquin des Prez One of the greatest composers

of the Renaissance Compositions:

Masses Motets Chansons

Profound in expression Listen to samples

Harmonies, suspense, imitation, meter change

Close relationship between music & text

In Josquin’s Music

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 1525-1594

Italian Renaissance ComposerRenaissance polyphony (used as

model in college classes) “Prima prattica” - 1st practicePope Marcellus Mass

Well-known work

Pope Marcellus Mass5 movements

Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei

5 movements of the Mass OrdinaryWritten for Pope MarcellusOnly reigned for 22 days - deathDisplays Palestrina’s Perfect

Polyphony

Sound

Harmony

Melody

Rhythm

Growth

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Council of TrentReformation in church

Changes in music & massAway from polyphony - back to

chantSaid, “It distracted from text.”Fortunately, it didn’t last!!

Secular Music Madrigals

Setting for four, five, or six voices Word painting Lyric poetry Love theme Claudio Monteverdi

Famous Italian madrigalist Read pg. 294

Cruda AmarilliCruel Amaryllis, who with your very name,Alas, bitterly teach me to love.Amaryllis, whiter and lovelierthan the white jasminebut deafer, fiercer and more evasive than the deaf asp;Since I offend you by speaking,I shall die in silence.

John Dowland Lute player Renaissance “Pop” artist “Flow My Tears” Watch Sting video