WESTERN MUSIC

Renaissance Period and

Baroque Period
 Comes from the word “renaitre” means “rebirth,
revival and rediscovery”.

 This era was also known as Golden Age of A

capella.

 The invention of printing paved the way for a

wide distribution of renaissance music.

 Though sacred music was still of great

importance, secular music became more
prominent in Renaissance Period.

Renaissance Period
 Mostly Polyphonic

 Imitation among the voices is common

 Melodic lines move in a flowing

manner

 Melodies are easier to perform

Characteristics of Renaissance
Music
1. Mass
- is form of sacred musical composition that
sets text of the Eucharistic liturgy into music.

Characteristics of Mass Music:

 Polyphonic
 May sung a capella/ with orchestral
accompaniment

Five main sections of Mass:

1. Kyrie (Lord have Mercy)
2. Gloria (Glory to God In the Highest)
3. Credo(I believe in God)
4. Sanctus and Benedictus (Holy, holy and
Blessed Is He)
5. Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
VOCAL MUSIC
2. Motet
- polyphonic religious choral composition,
on a sacred text but sometimes
considered a secular music for soloist and
instrumental.

Ex. Ave Maria by Josquin des Prez

VOCAL MUSIC
1. Madrigal
- a secular music
- unaccompanied vocal piece
- written and expressed in a poetic text

Characteristics of the Madrigal:

 Polyphonic
 Sung in a capella
 Through-composed opposite of
strophic

VOCAL MUSIC
 was born in Palestrina, Rome

 an Italian composer, considered

as the greatest master of
Renaissance Catholic music.

 He composed more than 100

masses with the Pope Marcellus
Mass published in 1567 as the best.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

“ Saviour of the Roman Catholic Church”
Thomas Morley
“ Father of English Madrigal”
 an artistic style that started in Rome, Italy

 came from the word “barroco” or “oddly shaped

pearl”

 Literature and music prospered in affections and

expressive feeling ,still the music serves the
purpose of the Catholic Church

 Styles and Forms of Baroque Period: Opera and

Oratorio

Baroque Period
1. Opera
- invented by camerata, is form of song
drama (musical drama)
- it has five basic elements namely libretto,
singers, orchestra, stage/costumes/scenery,
Actors/actresses.

3 Vocal Forms in an Opera

 Recitative- is a vocal passages written in a
declamatory style
 Aria- a free vocal form solo voice. It is
accompanied by an orchestra with repeated
figures
 Chorus

Styles and Forms

2. Oratorio

- a large scale of musical composition

based from the religious theme for solo
voice, chorus and orchestra without the
use of costume, action, and scenery.

Styles and Forms

1. Concerto- a composition for solo instrument
with orchestra as accompaniment

Three Movement of a Concerto:

 First Movement- Allegro
 Second Movement- slow movement
 Third Movement- short and fast

2. Fugue – a counterpoint composition in which a

short melody or phrase is introduced by one
part where tunes repeated in complex patterns.

Forms of Instrumental Music

3. Sonata – a composition for one solo instrument
with piano as accompaniment with three to four
movements.

4. Suite- a set instrumental compositions,

originally in dance style, played in succession.

Forms of Instrumental Music

 came from a family
of musicians

 was born in Germany

 he became a church
organist at the age of 18

Johann Sebastian Bach

“One of the Greatest Composers of All Time”
 Was born in Italy

 He is known for the popular

Four Seasons where he
composes one for Summer,
Autumn, Winter and Spring

Antonio Vivaldi
“ The Red Priest”
 was born in Germany

 he started composing
at the age of 11 until 17

 his work, The Messiah,

is the popular Oratorios in
history. It is usually
performed during
Christmas seasons.

George Frideric Handel

“ England’s Favorite Composer”
End of the discussion 