Renaissance Period

Here are the notes on the Renaissance Period for the Seventh Grade Music Class:

Renaissance Period:  1400 – 1600 A. D.

French meaning “Rebirth”  it was the start of more instruments and parts in music.

1.       Start of homophony – a melody on top supported by chords below

2.       Music was in triple meter

3.       Parallel harmony in thirds (3rds)

4.       Start of the chanson, French meaning song (voice supported by chord accompaniment.)

5.       Beginning of 4-part voicing   (polyphony)

6.       Music was more individualized based on the composer’s country

7.       Start of the Madrigal – a 4-part, metrical, rhythmic, homophonic song

8.       Start of the Lied – German version of a song similar to the chanson

Instruments:

Rebec – pear shaped string instrument

Tromba Marina – single string instrument

Cornet – precursor of the cornet, made out of wood

Clavichord and Harpsichord – precursor of the piano where the strings are plucked instead being strucked.

Composers:

Thomas Tallis:  (1505 – 1585)  He wrote motets and secular music

William Byrd:  (1543 – 1623)  He wrote Catholic Masses and motets

Josquin Des Pres:  (1440 – 1521)  He wrote motets, masses, and chansons

Orlando di Lasso:  (1532 – 1594)  He wrote madrigals, lieder, chanson, and motets

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina:  1525 – 1594)  He wrote masses, motets and sacred music

                    Thomas Morley:  (1557 – 1602)  He wrote madrigals, ballets and aires

                    For additional composers from the Renaissance, click on the following link to the Composer Paper.

12/11/2002