2. RENAISSANCE
Master of Female Half-lengths - A Concert of Three Female Figures (1530-40)
1. INTRODUCTION
Renaissance is the artistic period that runs from the 15th century to the 16th century (from the discovery of America in 1492 to the first preserved opera in 1600).
"Renaissance" means "rebirth" and it indicates new interest in ancient Greece and Rome. Medieval theocentrism (God is the centre of the universe) was replaced by humanism (the human being is the centre of the universe).
The invention of the printing press made the spreading of music easier.​ Music was an important part of the education of cultured people. Composers began signing their works, instead of being anonymous.
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Characteristics​
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Rhythm: regular and smooth, except in dances.
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Melody: modal, moving stepwise with a few large leaps.
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Harmony: modal. Growing use of the interval of the third as a consonance.
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Texture: polyphony, often imitative counterpoint.
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Timbre: the concept of orchestra did not yet exist, but the first ensembles of instruments appeared.
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Dynamics: changes in intensity were applied in performance but were not indicated in the score.
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Word painting: music reflected the meaning of the text. E.g. a rising melodic line would portray the text "ascension to heaven" or a dark harmony would reflect the word "death".
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Composers​
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Franco-Flemish school: Lasso, Desprez, Dufay.
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Italy: Palestrina, Gesualdo, Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli, Maddalena Casulana.
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Germany: Adam von Fulda, Hassler, Praetorius.
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England: Dowland, Tallis, Byrd.
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Spain:
- Castilian school: Juan del Encina, Tomás Luis de Victoria.
- Andalusian school: Cristóbal de Morales, Francisco Guerrero.
- Catalan school: Mateo Flecha, Joan Pujol.
2. RELIGIOUS VOCAL MUSIC
During this period the unity of the church was broken.
The Protestant Reformation (Protestant Church)
In Germany, Martin Luther broke away with Rome
in 1510, establishing Protestantism.
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Chorale: homophonic Protestant form written
in German, often based on popular melodies.
These features made it easy for the
congregation to understand the text and
participate in the singing.
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The English Reformation (Anglican Church)
In England, Henry VIII broke away with Rome in 1534 and proclaimed himself the head of the Anglican Church.
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Anthem: polyphonic Anglican form written in English.
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The Counter-Reformation (Catholic Church)
Rome reacted at the Council of Trent (1545-1563). They kept Gregorian chant as the official singing and simplified the texts and the texture of the polyphony. Palestrina, Lasso, Morales and Victoria stand out.
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Motet: polyphonic Catholic form written in Latin with sacred text not connected to the liturgy.
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Mass: polyphonic Catholic form written in Latin with sacred texts from the liturgy (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei).
Lutero / Osiander - "Christum wir sollen loben schon"
(min 1:10) (chorale)
Tomás Luis de Victoria - "Ave Maria"
(motet)
3. PROFANE VOCAL MUSIC
Musical forms varied depending on the country and evolved bound to the poetry of the time. These forms use the mixed quartet (SATB) as its most frequent grouping.
Italy
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Madrigal: polyphonic form written in Italian about love and with no instrumental accompaniment. Music describes the text by using madrigalisms in emotional words such as "joy", "laugh" or "cry". Main composers were Marenzio, Gesualdo and Monteverdi.
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France
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Chanson: polyphonic form written in French about love, nature, chivalry, morality or satire and typically with instrumental accompaniment. Music describes the text by using musical onomatopoeias like the singing of birds, etc. Main composers were Desprez and Janequin.
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Spain
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Villancico: homophonic form written in Spanish and structured in "estribillo" and "coplas". The last verse of the "copla" acts as a "volta" repeating the melody of the "estribillo". It’s not what we now call a Christmas carol. The name comes from "villano" ("villa" meaning "village"). Main composers were Juan del Encina and Mateo Flecha.
Gesualdo - "Sospirava il mio core"
(madrigal)
Janequin - "Le chant des oyseaux"
(min 2:56) (chanson)
Del Encina - "Ay triste que vengo"
(villancico)
4. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Instrumental music was usually excluded from church and often used to accompany profane vocal music. Purely instrumental music developed as an independent genre, performed by small ensembles or solo instruments with flexible instrumentation, since composers rarely specified exact instruments.
The first instrumental ensembles, called consorts, were organized by instrument by family or intensity:
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Whole consort: group of instruments from the same family.
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Broken consort: group of instruments from different families.
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Haut: group of loud instruments intended for outdoor performances.
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Bas: group of soft instruments intended for indoor performances.
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Most instrumental forms respond to three basic types of composition.
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Pieces based on vocal works: they keep the form and texture of the vocal work.
E.g. ricercare, tiento, canzona.
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Pieces based on improvisation upon a given melody or freely made up.
E.g. fantasia, toccata.
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Pieces based on variation: they start with a simple theme later repeated with modifications.
E.g. variations, diferencias.
Luis de Narváez - Diferencias sobre "Guárdame las vacas"
Luis de Narváez - Diferencias sobre "Guárdame las vacas" (tablature)
Dance
Ballroom dancing was very popular and dances used to be presented in contrasting pairs:
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First dance: slow dance of steps in a binary rhythm. E.g. pavane, allemande.
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Second dance: fast dance of spins and jumps in a ternary rhythm. E.g. sarabande, branle.
Pavane
Branle
Instruments
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String: lute (1), guitar (2), vihuela (3), lira da braccio (4), viola da gamba (5), clavichord (6), spinet or virginal (7).
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Wind: bombard (8), crumhorn (9), cornamuse (10), shawm (11), sackbut (12), serpent (13), organ (14).
5. LISTENING EXAMPLES
RELIGIOUS VOCAL MUSIC
Tomás Luis de Victoria - "Ave Maria"
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Rhythm: musical accents provided by the text.
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Texture: polyphony and homophony.
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Timbre: male voices (SATB, high notes in falsetto).
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Form: motet
PROFANE VOCAL MUSIC
Juan del Encina - "Ay triste que vengo"
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Rhythm: triple time signature (3/4).
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Texture: homophony.
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Timbre: male and female voices with instruments.
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Form: villancico