Medieval and
Renaissance Periods
c. 600 – c. 1600
Composers •Some of the main composers towards the end of this era are…
John Dowland
(1563 – 1626)
Orlando Gibbons
(1583 – 1625)
William Byrd
(1543 – 1623)
Palestrina
(c. 1525 – 1623)
How would you expect the music from this era to sound?
TONALITY: Modes Music at the time was not based on Major and Minor (these
weren’t in ful use until the Baroque Period) Scales as we
know them. It was based on modes.
VOCAL MUISIC
Divided into two sections:
- SACRED (Religious music)
- SECULAR (Non-Religious)
Gregorian Chant/Plainsong
Unaccompanied melody set to words of the Roman
Catholic liturgy, such as the Mass. (Sacred)
Plainchants are modal and have no regular
metre. Mostly sung by Monks, they follow the rhythm
of the Latin words.
Plainsong is mostly Monophonic.
It is often Melismatic
Listen to the following example…
Texture in Music
Monophonic
Homophonic
Polyphonic
Sacred Vocal Music
Motet -
This was a sacred choral work with Latin text and
polyphonic texture, for several voices.
It was usually sung a cappella.
Antiphonal Music.
Listen to the following example…
Composers: Thomas Tallis wrote a Motet for 40 voices:
‘Spem in Alium’ and Giobanni Gabrielli wrote a Motet for two choirs
Sacred Vocal Music
Anthem - Short sacred choral piece sung in English.
Sometimes sung by a choir unaccompanied and
sometimes accompanied by organ and featuring
solo parts. The anthem is the Protestant equivalent
of the Motet.
Listen to the following example…
Mass
• The Mass is a service of the Roman Catholic Church.
• It is a large scale work, with a set Latin text in which composers over the
years have set to Music.
• The basic Mass consists of five main sections –
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus (and Benedictus)
Agnus Dei
Listen to the following example…
Architecture of the Renaissance
Leonardo da Vinci
William Shakespeare
Secular Vocal Music
Madrigal -
Normally a non-religious (secular) vocal piece
for several voices, sometimes with instrumental accompaniment.
It is polyphonic in style and uses imitation.
Features of a Madrigal are -
Listen to the following example…
Secular Vocal Music
Ballett -
A type of madrigal in strophic form which was
originally danced to. It features a fa-la-la refrain at the end of each
verse. More lively and dance-like. (Now is the month of Maying)
Listen to the following example…
Air - English for Aria. Song or simple melody,
either performed by
instruments, or sometimes a solo singer
accompanied by a Lute.
Instruments
Lute
Recorders
Viols
Consort – A small group on instruments of the same family
playing together, e.g. a consort of viols. The term usually applies
to music from the Renaissance period.
Instruments of the Renaissance
Period
Consort
of viols
Recorders
Virginal
Clavichord
Renaissance Dances
Pavan – a Renaissance court dance; slow and stately
with two beats in the bar.
PA – VAN
1 - 2
often linked with…
Galliard – A Galliard is quick and lively with three
beats in a bar .
GA – LLI – ARD
1 - 2 - 3
Listen to the following examples…
Other Concepts…
Some other concepts which are features of this era are -
Antiphonal - Dialogue between voices or instruments - one group of
voices or instruments answers the other. In a live performance this would
be on opposite sides of the room.
Hemiola - A rhythmic device giving the impression of a piece of music
changing from duple (2) to triple (3) time, or vice versa.
Sometimes placed at the end of a piece to act as a kind of Rallentando.
Tierce de Picardie - The final chord of a piece of music
in the minor key is changed to major.
Summary
•By the end of this Unit, you should be familiar with the following Concepts -
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Mode
Gregorian Chant
Plainsong
Sacred
Secular
Madrigal
Motet
Mass
Ballett
A cappella
Consort
Pavan
Galliard
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Monophonic
Homophonic
Polyphonic
Strophic
Through-Composed
Air/Ayre
Anthem
Antiphonal
Tierce de Picardie
Hemiola
Melismatic
Syllabic