Renaissance and Baroque Music, Art, and History

Renaissance (15th-16th Centuries)

History

Civil society flourishes during the Renaissance, with a focus on nature, humans, and discovery. Power resides with influential bourgeois families. The Catholic and Protestant churches separate.

Art

Inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, Renaissance art emphasizes balance, beauty, and proportion. Painting, sculpture, and architecture thrive. Advanced mathematics contributes to sophisticated architecture. Owning instruments and employing skilled musicians becomes a status symbol among the ruling class.

Music

Polyphony and expressive music triumph. Vocal and instrumental music flourish. Songbooks compile songs and dances. Musicians hold esteemed positions in church chapels and courts, traveling and exchanging pieces with other composers.

Instruments

Instrumental parts are played or sung. Instrument families offer diverse ranges. Specific instruments do not always carry the melody. Alta music, played indoors, features percussion and wind instruments.

Genres and Forms

• Secular Music: Homophonic songs in vernacular languages express human emotions. Romances and villancicos feature more complex contrapuntal textures.
• Sacred Music: Simple contrapuntal polyphony highlights the Latin text, sometimes accompanied by organ. Protestant music utilizes homophonic textures with vernacular lyrics and popular melodies.

Baroque (17th-18th Centuries)

History

The Baroque era is marked by powerful monarchies and luxury. Science and mathematics advance significantly.

Art

Straight lines give way to curves and movement. The style is expressive and dramatic, with ornamentation symbolizing wealth.

Music

Courts and the Church demand grand, ornate, and expressive music. It is vital and dramatic, with characteristic rhythmic pulsation. Melodies are long and ornamented, often composed for specific royal occasions.

Instruments

Instrumental music gains importance. The orchestra emerges as a structured ensemble. Instrumentation is detailed in scores. Keyboards like the organ and harpsichord become prominent.

Performers and Composers

Performers showcase virtuosity in both vocal and instrumental music. Composers, including Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel, are employed and paid for their work.

Genres and Forms

• Instrumental Music: Sonatas, suites (collections of dances), and concertos (featuring soloists with orchestra) emerge.
• Vocal Music: Operas (sung plays with mythological themes) and oratorios (large compositions for religious events) are prominent.