RENAISSANCE MUSIC
(SECULAR)
Knox Academy Music Department
VOCAL MUSIC
Renaissance Music was not only found in the church. It was used as a form of
entertainment in peoples’ homes, usually richer people.
A common type of vocal music at this time was the madrigal. These were
composed all across Western Europe, but it is the English madrigals that you
need to know about.
Madrigals were the
Renaissance equivalent
of pop songs
BALLETT
The ballett is probably the easiest type of madrigal to identify.
The main features are:
• A cappella (unaccompanied)
• Strophic
• A distinctive refrain or chorus using the words ‘fa la la’.
They are often lighthearted and merry, eg Now is the month of
maying by Thomas Morley
AYRE
The ayre is very different in style to the ballett. It also has some
distinctive features:
• Usually for a solo voice
• Usually features an instrumental accompaniment on lute
• Often sad and melancholy
Eg Now, O now, I needs must part by John Dowland
Sting recently released an album of ayres and lute songs!
MADRIGAL PROPER
The madrigal proper can be more difficult to identify. However,
it’s main features are that it is:
• Through-composed (new music to each line of text)
• Very contrapuntal (polyphonic). The voices are all of equal
importance.
• Very imitative
A madrigal proper will usually contain word-painting. Eg Fair
Phyllis I saw by John Farmer. What examples of word-painting can
you hear?
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Refer to page 22 in the ‘History of Music’ books to see a range of
Renaissance instruments. Take particular note of the viol and also the
recorder (not shown) as these are most likely to come up in a Listening paper.
As mentioned, lutes and viols were sometimes used to accompany vocal
music. However, there are some types of instrumental music that you also
need to know…
CONSORT – a group of instruments from the same family playing together
eg a viol consort or a recorder consort are the most likely to crop up.
Listen to In Nomine 2 by William Byrd to hear a viol consort.
KEYBOARD MUSIC
In many Renaissance households there would be a keyboard instrument such
as the clavichord or virginal (like a simple harpsichord)
You need to be able to identify 2 types
of instrumental music:
PAVAN – a slow, stately dance with 2
beats in a bar.
GALLIARD – a fast, sprightly dance
with 3 beats in a bar.
Listen to John Langton’s Pavan and The Earle of Essex Galliard to hear this contrast.