Renaissance Art, Culture, and Music Explained

Circumstances Enabling Renaissance Art and Culture

• Economic prosperity followed the end of epidemics and famines in the Middle Ages. A new social class arose that demanded culture, art, and music: wealthy merchants (the bourgeoisie) became patrons of the arts, in addition to the nobility and the clergy.
• The birth of humanism, a mindset that promoted the development of art (not only religious art as before) to cater to human needs.
• The wisdom of Antiquity was widely spread, emphasizing human concerns.
• The invention of the printing press and travels around the world (including the arrival in America) eased the expansion of new trends.

How Humanism Influenced Renaissance Music

• The diffusion of knowledge affected music as well, helped by the printing press (as happened with new ideas, devices, and other arts).
• Development of secular and instrumental music aimed at human pleasure and expressing ideas to meet the growing demand of the bourgeoisie.
• Changes and new genres in religious music, seeking religious identity or more simplicity in polyphony to be closer to believers.

Functions of Music in Renaissance Society

Music served various functions in this period:

• Sacred Music: Served divine and religious purposes. When the unity of the Church was broken, it became a means of spreading the faith of the different cults: Lutheran, Anglican, and Catholic.
• Secular Music: Music was used for entertainment and dance. Also, the literati and philosophers used it to express their ideas, and the powerful classes and authoritarian monarchies used it to demonstrate their wealth.

Polyphonic Musical Genres of the Renaissance

• Chorale in Germany
• Anthem in England
• Motet and Mass in the Catholic Church
• Genres of secular music

Most Used Instruments in the Renaissance

• Vihuela (Spain)
• Viola
• Organ
• Clavichord
• Shawm (Chirimía)
• Crumhorn (Cromorn)
• Sackbut (Sacabuche)

Sacred Music Genres and Characteristics

Catholic Music

• Typical Genres: Motet and Mass
• Texture: Introduction of Gregorian chant (monody) and then alternating imitative counterpoint and homophony.
• Language: Latin
• Music-Text Relationship: Pneumatic
• Performers: Mixed choir a cappella. Professional interpreters.
• Composers: Tomás Luis de Victoria and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

Protestant Music

• Typical Genres: Chorale
• Texture: Homophonic
• Language: German
• Music-Text Relationship: Syllabic
• Performers: Mixed chorus a cappella (4 voices), often sung by the congregation.
• Composers: Johann Walter.

Anglican Music

• Typical Genres: Anthem
• Texture: Homophonic and Counterpoint
• Language: English
• Music-Text Relationship: Syllabic
• Performers: Mixed choir a cappella (4 voices), often with or without solo voices.
• Composers: Thomas Tallis.

Secular Music Genres and Characteristics

Italy

• Typical Genres: Madrigal
• Texture: Counterpoint Polyphony
• Language: Italian
• Music-Text Relationship: Pneumatic
• Character/Structure: Descriptive and sentimental (often love themes), based on poetry of high literary quality.
• Composers: Carlo Gesualdo.

France

• Typical Genres: Chanson
• Texture: Homophony
• Language: French
• Music-Text Relationship: Syllabic
• Character/Structure: Chorus/Couplets/Chorus.
• Composers: Pierre Certon.

Spain

• Typical Genres: Villancico
• Texture: Homophony
• Language: Spanish
• Music-Text Relationship: Syllabic
• Character/Structure: Refrain/Stanzas/Refrain.
• Composers: Juan del Encina.