NOTESLinks to an external site.

Renaissance Music Overview

Step 1

• Summarize the appeal of early music in this Folger ConsortLinks to an external site. video

  • • The appeal of early music is the fact that you don't require any background to enjoy. There is a sense of mystery and adventure that many are drawn to, as the genre of "early music" is broad yet unique. The initial intention of early music — to be played close to the audience — gives a sense of intimacy to those who listen nowadays. 

• Describe the timbres of the instruments heard in this Sackbut Links to an external site.example

  • This brassy tone is rather warm. It isn't as bright as typical brass I've heard, but it does retain that overblown brassy sound for emphasis. Overall the timbre is clean and warm with small spurts of rumbling-brass, 

 

Step 2

• Listen to the 4 examples below to answer the following questions

1. Share your overall impression of Renaissance Music.

2. How does Renaissance music sound similar to Medieval Music?

3. How does Renaissance music sound different from Medieval Music?

A.  Dance MusicLinks to an external site.

1. The light and delicate dance music reflected the requirement for royal courters to display quit whit and elegance to find a romantic partner. This shows the importance of music's feeling to reflect it's purpose in the Renaissance. 

2. Triple meter was often used in Medieval times, and many pieces shared this up-beat dance-like tone. 

3. Dance music between the eras differ in the use of the light and delicate tonality. The renaissance royal dance music was meant to reflect on poise and elegance of the dancers, while Medieval music was more about true enjoyment. This created a difference in feeling between the two eras. 

B.  ShakespeareLinks to an external site.

1. This was beautiful! The single vocal line above the stringed instrument (I presume it was originally a lyre) was extremely sorrowful yet calming. Renaissance music's use of word painting was extremely successful, thats all I can really say. 

2. Repetitive phrasing was also used in medieval times. 

3. The use of homophony was uncommon in Medieval times. The stringed instrument here was playing chords to support the singer, thus making it a type of homophony. Also, the single vocal line was uncommon in all sacred Medieval music, and the thin arrangement was uncommon in the secular division. 

C.  King Henry VIILinks to an external site.

1. Polyphony, homophony, melismas, points of imitation; it's really combining it all. This piece was mesmerizing. Renaissance music finally put the pieces together to create something beautiful.

2.  The use of imitation was extremely common in both eras. The instruments used also had similar timbres to the previous era's. 

3. The combination of homophony and polyphony (one line was harmonized and then repeated in a different voice) was something uncommon to Medieval times. 

D.  Monteverdi MassLinks to an external site.

1.  Some of the Renaissance music, especially of the sacred category, sounds quite similar to Medieval music. 

2. Points of imitation and melismatic chant style was used in both eras. Similarities in sacred music between the Renaissance and Medieval times are more common than in secular. Also, in this piece in particular, the tenor took the melody. This was a common practice paired with isorhythmic form. 

3. The use of harmony and extensive melismas used, as well as the greater pitch range, separate Renaissance sacred music from Medieval sacred music. Also, most notable, is the important fact that in the Renaissance they split mass into five distinguishable sections. These sections each get their own set of music.  

 

Step 3

• How does Josquin Des Prez convey a happy cricket in his composition El GrilloLinks to an external site.?

  • The short hits of "da-le", "be-ve", etc. mimic a happy cricket's chirp.  When the hits are not being said, the sings still sing most syllables short and sharp. This creates a bouncy feeling contributing to the happy mood of the piece. Also, the chords/harmonies used are almost all consonant and thus avoid uncomfortable feelings. 

 

Step 4

• Listen to Sicut CervusLinks to an external site. Links to an external site.by Giovanni Palestrina to answer the following questions

1. Is this example Sacred or a Secular? Sacred. 

2. What is the language of the text? Latin

3. Is the texture monophonic, homophonic or polyphonic? Polyphonic

 

Step 5

• Describe the use of dynamics and antiphony demonstrated in Sonata pian e forte. by Giovanni Gabrieli

  • The two opposing ideas of the piece coming from the lower and higher voices is an example of antiphony. The dynamics are interesting as the two contrasting ideas shift in volume, each taking their turn as the melody and the counterpoint. At about 40 seconds in the higher pitched idea changes and the dynamics got softer, but soon after the ideas changed again and the high voice crescendoes into a load, bold, proud melody. 

• What are 3 musical clues/characteristics that identify it as being from the Renaissance Period? 

  • The mode used, the polyphonic structure, and the timbres of the instruments (notify the listener that Renaissance instruments are being used, such as sackbuts) identify this piece as being from the Renaissance Period. 

 

Step 6

• Use this Recorder EnsembleLinks to an external site. example by Merula to describe tempo and rhythm

  • The tempo is incredibly fast when you consider what rhythms are being played. I estimate the tempo at about 100, but I heard rhythms as fast as 32nd notes. Mostly through the piece, there was an alto recorder played straight eighths and a higher pitched recorder playing faster rhythms on top of it. 

 

Step 7

• Use this Thomas Morley Madrigal Now is the Month of MayingLinks to an external site. to answer the following questions

1. Identify where individual motives and themes are first introduced and subsequently reappear

   1. "Now is the month of may" ascending line and "fa la la"s descending line are initially played in the opening flute line and reappear in the vocals multiple times. 

2. Identify changes in dynamics and discuss the effect these changes create

   1. The flute begins at about mf and the listener is eased into vocals (again at about mf). The first four bar phrase continues at mf but the second phrase is piano, drawing the listener in. It also created a light, dancing mood that matched the spring theme. The following phrase is music louder (I would say forte), and this loud/soft back and forth continues until the end of the piece. It keeps the listener invested and creates a "bouncy" spring-y feeling that matches the words being sung. 

3. Describe changes in texture in Month of MayingLinks to an external site. as monophonic, homophonic and/or polyphonic

   1. The Month of Maying begins as monophonic with a flute line and percussion accompaniment. Then, a choir joins making it making it homophonic. When the flute diverges into a separate melody, it becomes polyphonic. The "fa la las" in the choir also diverge into a polyphonic texture. The piece ends monophonic, again with just a flute line. 

 

Step 8

• Provide a brief narrative about GreensleevesLinks to an external site. Links to an external site.

1. Background & History

   1. Greensleeves is a traditional English folksong originating (well, it was registered) in London by Richard Jones. However, it is supposed that Henry VIII originally composed it. The song was first documented in 1580 (33 years after Henry VIII's death). It has become famous in terms of instrumental performance and in literary mention (it adds a specific characterization to a scene), such as when Shakespeare names the song twice in one play. 

2. Meaning & Verses

   1. "Lady Green Sleeves" is rumored to be a prostitute due to green being a sexual color (from grass stains on dresses... no need to further explain). However, it could have been a song about intimacy and affection as green was also considered to be the color of love. 

3. What Christmas Carol uses the same melody?

   1. What Child is This?

 

Step 9

• Check out Julie Freebern's Recorder Ensemble Website for Medieval, Renaissance

and Baroque music recordings:  The Equinox ConsortLinks to an external site.

• For a real laugh, check out this video of the Crumhorn PartyLinks to an external site. hosted at the Freebern's house:)

Period Research

Step 1

• Gather resources of your own choosing to answer the following questions

1.  Provide approximate dates for the Renaissance punctuated with notable world/historical events

Pre-1400: The Black Death and the Rise of Florence

1400 to 1450: The Rise of Rome and the de Medici Family

1476 to 1500: The Age of Exploration

1492: Columbus "discovered" the Americas 

1501 to 1550: Politics and the Reformation: major political changes throughout Europe including Henry VIII taking power in England, Francis I in France, and Charles V in Spain. Reformation (new philosophical age) also began in 1517. 

1550 and Beyond: The Peace of Augsburg: Peace after Reformation conflicts

2.  Provide examples of how technological advances affected the development of music during the Renaissance

The printing press made manuscript paper easier to obtain as you didn't have to write the lines yourself. It also allowed for copying and distribution of compositions. This made writing music more accessible, thus more people were compelled to write more. Also, the shift towards trying to understand the universe (eg. invention of the telescope, oil painting, technical diagrams, etc.) most likely affected the way we understand music, too. Instead of music serving just a purpose (eg. church) it was used to convey emotion and/or explore the world of sound (ie. focus on sonority). This is also called "humanism" which means a society's focus on humans rather than a divine spirit; yet another invention of the Renaissance. This helps to explain to focus on things such as word painting; we were beginning to focus on meaning and purpose in every form of art. The attention to human anatomy in painting goes hand in hand with declamation just as the exploration of the world and emotion goes hand and hand with sonority.

 

Fun fact! Leonardo Da Vinci created his own instrument based of the hurdy-gurdy! Link

Step 2

PresentationLinks to an external site.

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Step 3

Ready to laugh?  Check out me(and 3 other brave souls)attempting to learn the DulcianLinks to an external site..

There is a reason it became extinct and morphed into a bassoon! 

Songs from the Labyrinth

Step 1

• Listen to the following interview with Sting on NPR regarding Songs from the LabyrinthLinks to an external site. 

• Listen to the following Dowland Anniversary Edition TrailerLinks to an external site.

1. Provide a description regarding this project

   1. Songs of the Labyrinth is a collection of songs for vocals and lute, songs usually written for professional musicians. Sting's lead was obsessed with John Dowland, the composer of this music, and decided to recreate his music using modern techniques. These techniques including recording over his voice multiple times, creating a choir-like-sound. 

2. Provide a bit of trivia regarding John Dowland

   1. John Dowland was a Renaissance composer known for his "depressing song titles". He was a court lutist, and was for a time suspected of committing treason in Italy. Nonetheless, he was an accomplished composer with many revivals of his work being done today. 

 

Step 2

• Watch the following "Message in a Bottle" videos using musical elements to guide your narrative

A.  The PoliceLinks to an external site.

B.  Sting & EdenLinks to an external site.

 

1.  How did Sting/Eden manipulate the original Rock version to emulate the Renaissance Period? 

(Musical Elements; Instruments, Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.)

Sting/Eden used thinner textures, less (no) percussion, and a different guitar timbre (I'm not sure if an effect was used by The Police, but Sting/Eden's version was more natural). They also slowed the piece down and put more effort into phrasing in the vocal parts. Less pop/upbeat would be the term I would use. Instead, it was deep and moving. 

Step 3

• Use the following text/music for your responses

1. If you were asked to set these lyrics to music, what choices would you make about tempo, dynamics, tonality, texture, form, mood, timbre, etc.?

   1. I would use a slow tempo, homophonic texture, and a sorrowful/eerie mood. This would involve a modal base and phrasing being focused in the voice (in other words, dynamics would be most important in the vocal part, and instrumental accompaniment would be quieter and draw less attention). I would want strings and piano accompanying the voice; all very smooth sounds. Four part harmony would be too dense in my opinion, I'd rather have a duet of a male and female voice. 

 

"In Darkness Let Me Dwell"

In darkness let me dwell; the ground shall sorrow be, 
The roof despair, to bar all cheerful light from me; 
The walls of marble black, that moist'ned still shall weep; 
My music, hellish jarring sounds, to banish friendly sleep. 
Thus, wedded to my woes, and bedded in my tomb, 
O let me dying live, till death doth come, till death doth come. 
In darkness let me dwell

 

2.  What choices did John Dowland make in his setting of In Darkness let me DwellLinks to an external site.?

John Dowland chose to create awkward and eerie counterpoint "coming from nowhere". It was mysterious and ended with a dramatic "incredible silence" that shocked the listener. Of course, this song was accompanied by a strummed lute (Dowland was a lutist) with a plucked timbre contradicting the vocals. The mode was definitely not happy. 

3.  How did his musical choices differ from yours?

I would prefer smooth instrumentation along with the vocals, like a cello. I also would like to see it harmonized. 

4.  Were there any similarities and if so, what were they?

I agreed that the mode should be sorrowful and eerie, use of counterpoint, slow tempo, and quiet accompaniment. 

Step 4

• Pair and Share the outcome of your step 3 creation

1.  Who was your partner? Matthew. 

2.  Describe their musical choices compared to yours.  Similarities?  Differences?

Similarities: sorrowful tone

Differences: He said "Sleep" by Eric Wittacre 

 

 

Honors Track

Can the Flanders Recorder Ensemble come out and play? 

​Use these resources to answer the following questions:  Home PageLinks to an external site.  ArticleLinks to an external site.  ARSLinks to an external site.

1.  Who, What, Where, When & Why?

Who: Bart Spanhove, Paul Van Loey, Tom Beets, Joris Van Goethem

What: A recorder ensemble. 

Where: They were founded in Belgium. 

When: Founded in 1987. 

Why: Their purpose is to showcase an "instrument that was underestimated for two centuries".  This includes performance and education of the recorder and its history. 

2.  Instruments: recorders! Including a contra-bass one that is taller than the men who play it! 

3.  Programs: 

Current Programs:, A Song for all Seasons, Links to an external site.Our Final Favourites, Links to an external site.Reclaiming Bach for the recorder, Links to an external site.The Final Chapter, Links to an external site.The Final Chapter (pure early music)Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.Earlier Programs: A chest of flutes, Links to an external site.A feast for four flutes, Links to an external site.Banchetto Musicale, Links to an external site.Circa 1600 - the birth of affect, Links to an external site.Felicitazione!, Links to an external site.Finding the Flemish in Rome, Links to an external site.Isabela la Catolica, Links to an external site.Jukebox Sunday, Links to an external site.Lamentationes et contrapuncti, Links to an external site.The am'rous flute, Links to an external site.The Darke is my Delight, Links to an external site.The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Links to an external site.Timeline, Links to an external site.VeneziaLinks to an external site.

Educational Programs: A piece of Wood, Links to an external site.Malus, Links to an external site.MulticultiLinks to an external site.

4.  Concerts They performed over 2,500 concerts all over the world in Europe and the U.S. Here is a map and link to their farewell tour in 2016: LinkLinks to an external site.

5.  Recordings

6.  Images & Audio Examples Link 1     Link 2      Link 3