Introduction to the Renaissance Era
Meaning "rebirth" in French, this term defines the historical and musical era spanning roughly 1400 to 1600
What is Renaissance?
Singing without any instrumental accompaniment, a style defining much of Renaissance church music.
What is a cappella?
Known for his Pope Marcellus Mass, he simplified polyphonic textures to satisfy the Catholic Church's demand for clear text.
Who was Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina?
The most popular secular vocal composition of the Renaissance, set for several voices and usually focused on love.
What is a madrigal?
A pear-shaped, plucked string instrument that stood as the most popular instrument in the Renaissance home.
What is the lute?
Renaissance artists and composers looked back to these two ancient civilizations for ideals of beauty, balance, and harmony.
What are Greece and Rome (or Greek and Roman)?
A polyphonic, sacred choral composition set to a Latin text other than the Ordinary of the Mass.
What is a motet?
The master of imitation and expressive sacred motets like Ave Maria.
Who was Josquin des Prez?
This French term refers to a specific type of secular Renaissance song originating in France.
What is a chanson?
This brass instrument served as the Renaissance ancestor to the modern trombone.
What is a sackbut?
This ground-breaking technological invention allowed music and ideas to be mass-produced and distributed widely across Europe.
What is the printing press?
This section of the Mass consists of texts that remain the same every day of the church year, such as the Gloria.
What is the Ordinary (of the Mass)?
Famous for writing expressive English lute songs like "Come Heavy Sleep".
Who was John Dowland?
These two European nations saw the greatest flourishing of madrigals.
What are Italy and England?
A term describing an ensemble or group of instruments playing together from the same instrument family.
What is a consort?
Moving away from monophonic chants, this multi-voiced texture became the primary musical structure of the Renaissance.
What is polyphony (or polyphonic texture)?
Unlike the Ordinary, these chants and prayers in the Mass change daily depending on the church calendar.
What is the Proper (of the Mass)?
An early Renaissance French composer who pioneered developments in harmony and cadence.
Who was Guillaume Dufay?
English madrigals differed from Italian ones by being lighter, more rhythmic, and often incorporating these nonsensical vocal refrains.
What are "fa-la-la" refrains?
A bowed, fretted string instrument popular during the period, separate from the modern violin family.
What is a viol (or viola da gamba)?
Renaissance composers prioritized matching their musical settings to this, making expression and text clarity a core focus.
What is the text (or the words/meaning of the lyrics)?
This Catholic Church council demanded simpler, clearer polyphony so listeners could easily understand sacred Latin texts.
What was the Council of Trent?
An English composer known for his famous English madrigals featuring vivid word painting, including "Fair Phyllis".
Who was John Farmer?
This English composer compiled The Triumphs of Oriana, a famous collection of English madrigals honorably dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I.
Who was Thomas Morley?
This composer was famous for collecting and writing instrumental dance music, such as his collection titled Terpsichore.
Who was Michael Praetorius?