MUSIC OF THE RENAISSANCE 1400-

1600
 CHARACTERISTICS:

 MOSTLY POLYPHONIC
 IMITATION AMONG THE VOICES IN COMMON
 USE OF WORD PAINTING IN TEXTS AND MUSIC
 MELODIC LINES MOVE IN A FLOWING MANNER
 MELODIES ARE EASIER TO PERFORM BECAUSE
THESE MOVE ALONG A SCALE WITH A FEW
LARGE LEAPS.

1
VOCAL MUSIC OF THE
RENAISSANCE PERIOD
1. MASS- is a form of 2. MADRIGAL- a secular
sacred musical vocal polyphonic music
composition that sets composition which
text of the Eucharistic originated in Italy. It was
liturgy into music. written and expressed in
a poetic text and sung
during courtly social
gatherings. Most
important secular form
during the Renaissance
period.

2
CHARACTERISTICS
1.MASS: 2.MADRIGAL:
 POLYOHONIC  POLYPHONIC
 MAYBE SUNG A CAPELLA OR  SUNG A CAPELLA
WITH ORCHESTRAL  THROUGH-COMPOSED
ACCOMPANIMENT  FREQUENTLY IN 3 TO 6
 TEXT MAYBE SYLLABIC ( one VOICES
note set to each syllable),
neumatic (a few notes set to
one syllable),or
melismatic(many notes to
one syllable.

3
OF THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD

4
1. GIOVANNI PEIRLUIGI DA PALESTRINA
IS FROM ROME 1525-1594. He was the greatest master of
Roman Catholic Church, and his compositions are sacred
music. In the sixteenth century he was committed in
satisfying the desires of church leader. Pope Marcellus
Mass is held up as the perfect example of counter
reformation style. Kyrie is part of the first two sections of
the Pope Marcellus. His career was reflects his
commitment to the music of the church. He received his
early training and spent the majority of his career in
various churches in Rome, including the Pope’s chapel.
He was an organist and choir master at both the Sistine
Chapel and at St. Peter’s Basilica. His first book,Masses
became popular and was greatly appreciated by Pope
Julius III.

5
2. THOMAS MORLEY
He was born in Norwich, East England. He became master of
chorister in 1583,he was the most famous composer of secular
music in his time. He studied music with William Byrd an
Elizabethan composer of sacred music. He received his
Bachelor’s degree in Oxford and became an organist at St.Paul’s
Cathedral in London. He tried imitating Byrd in his early works
but veered towards composing madrigals that shows variety of
color, form, and technique. Most of his madrigals are light and
easy song with some aspect of Italian style. His Musica
Transalpina, a collection of Italian madrigals fitted with English
text, was published in 1588 by Nicholas Yonge.
His works include:
“Fire , Fire, My Heart”
“Sing and Chant It”
“fantasie” 6
 1. Which madrigal did you enjoy more?
 2. Which song can you relate with? Sacred or
secular music. Why?
 3. Based on what you have heard, do you
agree that compositions of Palestrina and
Morley reflect their personalities? Why or
Why not?