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Renaissance Music (Sacred)An introduction

+Renaissance – rebirth (1475-1600)

Art, architecture, literature and music share characteristics of the period

Printing enabled ideas to be shared across Europe

The role of the church impacts on cultural life and music in particular e.g. Luther (1517), Calvin (1530), Henry VIII (1534)

Roman Catholic counter reformation e.g. Palestrina (1525-94), Victoria (1548-1611), Lassus (1532-94) and G. Gabrieli ((1555-1612) writing music according to the Council of Trent (1545-63)

Josquin des Prez (1440-1521) using the music to enhance the text – Musica Reservata

+Sacred Music

Sacred music in the Renaissance developed from the Medieval plainsong

It had developed from Medieval practice of using monophony, adding an organum part and layering voices using imitation

Renaissance part writing became more polyphonic, but used more regularity in rhythmic writing

Mass and motet

+Features of Renaissance style 1

Intervals – influenced by plainsong, largely stepwise movement but including 3rd, 4th and occasionally a perfect 5th. Leaps are usually followed by stepwise movement in opposite direction

Part writing was usually consonant (3rds and 6ths )between parts. 5ths and 8ves were used for weak beats. 8ves were used at the beginning and cadence points. Consecutive 5ths and 8ves were not used. Exposed 5ths and 8ves were avoided e.g. outer parts arriving from a leap in the upper part

+Features of Renaissance style 2

Modes include:

Ionian

Dorian

Phrygian

Lydian

Mixolydian

Aeolian

Lochrian

+Features of Renaissance style 3

Dissonance (subject to careful rules regarding preparation)

Musical ficta enabled raised leading notes for some modes and the use of the tierce de Picardie to shape part writing towards the diatonic major/minor system. These were often added into the performance e.g. convention

Diabolus in musica the devil in music was the tritone (augmented 4th or diminished 5th) and was to be avoided in the Renaissance. Accidentals would be used in music to avoid this

Phrasing – curved and usually within an octave range

Rhythm is irregular and non-repetitive. Use of the beat or tactus (minim) is most common – heart beat pace

+Features of Renaissance style 4

Imitation was often four to eight beats (two bars) apart

Imitation at a 5th, 4th or 8ve was most common

Imitation often uses contrary motion

Syncopation is common