Unit 2. Renaissance
1. Introduction
2. Religious vocal music
3. Secular vocal music
4. Instrumental music
5. Renaissance music impact
1. Introduction
The Renaissance was a period which lasted from the 15th to the 16th centuries. Unlike the rest of arts, its music did not return to classical models.
Under the influence of Humanism, the composer looked for the freedom of his creation. Music acquired a great social prestige at the service of different religions and the flashiness of the upper class.
2. Religious vocal music
Religious vocal music reflected the division of the Church.
-
The Protestant Reformation (Germany)
Martin Luther broke away with Rome in the year 1510. The chorale was the hymn of Luther's Protestant Church, a simple composition often based on popular melodies. It is usually written for four voices and in German, with a homophonic texture.
-
The English Reformation (England)
Henry VIII broke away with Rome in the year 1534, creating the Anglican Church, and proclaimed himself the head of it.. The anthem was the Anglican religious form, a composition similar to the motet, written in english for four voices.
-
The Catholic Counter-Reformation
It began with the Council of Trent. The Catholic Church reacted against Protestantism with the Counter-Reformation, basing its music on the expressive clarity of the text and taking polyphony to its peak with the motet.
Ave Maria - Tomás Luis de Victoria
3. Secular vocal music
Secular music became as important as religious music and developed several forms of song, varying on the country:
In Italy, the madrigal, a polyphonic form for four or five voices.
In France, the chanson, a vocal form with polyphonic texture and usually with instrumental
accompaniment.
Voulez ouyr les cris de Paris - Clément Janequin
Mille regretz - Josquin des Prez
In England, the ayre, a form for solo voice with lute accompaniment.
Flow, my tears - John Dowland
Oh death, rock me asleep - Anne Boleyn
In Spain, simpler and more popular forms were developed, like the villancico, the romance and the ensalada.
-
Villancico: it follows a text structured in choruses and coplas. The last verses of the copla act as a “volta”, repeating the melody of the chorus.
Más vale trocar - Juan del Encina
Ay triste que vengo - Juan del Encina
-
Romance: it is a strophic song with narrative character about historic and legendary matters or social events. It is composed by a musical section repeated for each strophe.
Qu'es de ti, desconsolado? - Juan del Encina
-
Ensalada: it mixes different genres, forms and texts in a single composition. It also puts together mocking and serious subjects.
4. Instrumental music
Instrumental music became independent from singing. Specific instrumental pieces, based on both the adaptation of vocal works and the techniques of improvisation and variation began to appear.
Pieces based on vocal works:
La canción del emperador - Luis de Narváez
Pieces based on variation
(differences):
Diferencias sobre Guardame las Vacas - Luis de Narváez
Diferencias sobre el Canto llano del Caballero - Antonio de Cabezón
Instrumental families were classified, according to intensity, in Haut music (formed by loud instruments, for outdoor performances) or Bas music (formed by soft instruments, for indoor performances).
Haut music: La Spagna - Francisco de la Torre
The most important solo instruments of the Renaissance were the lute (1), the vihuela (2), the organ (3) and the harpsichord (4).
Instruments of the Renaissance
Dance
Dance was widely accepted, and contributed to the development of instrumental music.
We distinguish two types of dances:
• Social dance, with the dance pair composed by the pavane and the galliard.
• Dance theatre, which made room for ballet.
Pavana y Gallarda d'Angleterre - Claude Gervais
The majesty of Renaissance dance
5. Renaissance music impact
Listen to this version of "Ay linda amiga", a song by an anonymous author, which appears in the “Cancionero de Palacio”, a collection of the most popular songs from the time of the Catholic Monarchs.
Ay linda amiga
Ay linda amiga - Saray (Vis a vis)