Renaissance: Rebirth of Classics and Music Theory

Renaissance

The foremost characteristic of the Renaissance is the rebirth of the classics (Greece and Rome).

If during the Middle Ages God was at the center of everything, now it is the contrary. Humans are at the center of everything (anthropocentrism).

Reasoning, not faith, is what guides life.

Art is seen as an end in itself (not something to please God) and its goal is to achieve the ideal form of beauty based on the harmony and proportions found in nature.

All artistic expressions found inspiration in old Rome. The only exception was music, which had to find its own style far from medieval music.

Melody

• It refers to the way notes are written horizontally on the score, how they are performed one after the other.

Harmony

• It refers to the way notes are written vertically on the score, how they are performed simultaneously.

Chord

• Set of three notes played simultaneously. The triad is the most common type with intervals of thirds between them.

Arpeggio

• It’s when the notes of a chord are played in sequence. On a stave they are shown with a squiggly vertical line.

Imitative Counterpoint

• Several melodic lines - Each line is independent - All lines have a lot of similarities although each one is different - The lines imitate each other.

Homoehythmic Homophony

• Several melodic lines - All melodic lines are played at the same time - All melodic lines are similar but each one has its own characteristics - Although each line is different, they all are connected harmonically; this is why they can be played at the same time and, even so, sound well - All melodic lines have identical rhythm (that is why is called homorhythmic).

Melody-Dominated Homophony

• There is a main melodic line easily identifiable - The harmonic accompaniment is basically made up of chords - The other lines are simply a harmonic accompaniment.

Music Theory Terms

• Dot: We write the “dot” to the right of notes and rests. It increments the duration of the note or rest by half.
• Tie: It is a curved line that joins two or more notes of the same pitch or rests, adding their values as one.
• Fermata: We can join notes or rests that are in different bars. The symbol is written next to the note head. It is a semicircle with a dot in the middle. It is used to pause the beat of the music for as long as the performer wishes. This can be placed on notes and rests alike. The symbol is written above the stave and on top of the note or rest affected.