Renaissance Musical Ideal

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Renaissance Musical Ideal

• A cappella (no instruments)
• Polyphony (each line independent)
• Equal Voices (SATB or more)
• Imitation (same melodies or nearly so in all
  parts)
• Text Matters (audibility and meaning)

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Secular Music in Renaissance

• Tied to rise of Middle Class Secular Princes
• Heritage of unwritten (improvised) music
• Music Printing helps to spread the styles
• popular styles more accessible- less
  complicated- homophonic textures- vernacular
  texts

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Music Printing in the Renaissance
Ottaviano Petrucci (1501)
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Chant Manuscripts(hand-copied in Medieval era)
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The Madrigal

• Secular Genre of Music
• Begins in Italy, c. 1500s
• High quality of poetry (Petrucci, et al.)
• Word Painting (madrigalisms)
• Musica Transalpina (1588, to England)
• English Madrigals w/ English texts

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Renaissance Music

• Church continues as dominant patron
• Secular princes and middle class patrons
• Polyphony more common- ideal is 4 a cappella
  equal voices- imitation is frequently used-
  text matters (word painting used)
• Madrigals are important secular form
• Josquin, Palestrina, Weelkes

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The Baroque the Arts

• Barroco misshapen pearl
• Negative connotation of Baroque
• Dynamic, active shapes
• Extreme contrasts
• Emotion favored over classical balance/control

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Renaissance Masterpieces
Madonna of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci (1483)
David by Michelangelo(1501-1504)
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Judith Beheading Holofernesby Caravaggio (1598)
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The Lion Hunt by Peter Paul Rubens (1621)
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Baroque Architecture
Bernini St. Peters Altar (Vatican)
Versailles Grand Galerie
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The Baroque Music Traits

• c. 1600-1750
• Emphasis on expression
• New texture (soprano vs. bass)
• Basso continuo (instrumental foundation)
• Voices Instruments mix
• Instrumental music now equal
• Old style (Palestrina style) still used