Historical Context
General Music Qualities
Sacred Music
Secular Music
Society
100

The term for the philosophy that focuses on the value of people, as opposed to gods and deities.

Humanism
100

This musical device, in which composers reflect the text of a piece using musical elements, became widely used during this time.

Word Painting

100

A polyphonic sacred work made up of five sections.

Mass

100

These pieces were written for voice and lute.

Lute Songs

100

In the 16th century, this country became the cultural center of Europe.

Italy

200

The invention of this device helped spread knowledge, music, and the arts across Europe.

The Printing Press

200

The use of these helped create a stronger sense of tonality in Renaissance music than had previously existed.

Triads

200

A polyphonic sacred work using texts other than the mass ordinary

Motet

200

The instrument that the lute is a descendant of.

The Arab ud

200
Country where the madrigals were generally lighter and more comical than their Italian counterparts.

Britain

300

The restructuring of the Catholic church when portions broke away to establish a new form of Christianity.

Protestant Reformation

300

The manuscripts for this music was not as carefully preserved, therefore few survived.

Instrumental Music

300

Name one of the sections of the mass

Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei

300

A piece for several solo voices set to a short poem, usually about love.

Madrigal

300

The system in which composers found employment either with a church or working for a wealthy citizen.

Patronage

400

The economic boost led to the development of this societal class.

The Middle Class

400

The texture of lute songs.

Homophonic

400

Name one of the two famous sacred composers we discussed in class.

Josquin des Prez or Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

400

The two main types of secular music

Solo voice with instrument and multiple equal voices

400

The name of the wealthy Italian family, became important patrons of the arts, literature, and architecture.

Medici

500

Explain how the economy of the Renaissance affected the way people experienced music in their lives.

The middle class were financially comfortable enough to have some free time and resources to focus on tasks besides survival. They could develop new hobbies including learning to read, compose, and perform music.

500

This is the texture of most Renaissance music, however homophonic textures were also used.

Polyphony

500

What effect did the Protestant Reformation have on the music of the church? How did the Catholic church respond in its music?

Under Protestantism, the congregation was allowed to participate in worship, including singing. Instruments were also allowed in worship. More people became musically literate as a result. The Catholic church responded by becoming more restrained, blaming the Protestant increase in polyphony and instrumentation and as being too theatrical and not focused on text.

500

Explain the role of instruments in the Renaissance and how it evolved.

At the beginninginstruments only accompanied vocalists. If instruments played alone they often only played the vocal melody of a madrigal. By the end of the era, composers were writing for instrumental ensembles. Instruments were still not allowed in Catholic worship but they were used in Protestant churches.

500

Explain how the role of composers of the Renaissance differed from that of the Middle Ages.

Composers were no longer content to remain anonymous and desired credit and public recognition for their work. Many found work in the patronage system, working for the wealthy or royalty. These patrons often competed for the best composers. Other composers were self employed.