2.9.10.doc

2.09.10 MUSI 1001 RENAISSANCE (1475-1600) -Means ?Rebirth? -Intellectual/artistic activity began in Italy and spread to Northern Europe -Musical Developments did not begin until 1475 -Derived inspiration from heritage of ancient Greece/Rome -Valued personal achievement, intellectual, independence, and discovery HUMANISM: -Philosophical perspective markedly different from the medieval period -Emphasis on human worth, creativity, and capacity to shape society Musical Style: Rhythm: -Duple meter now as common as triple -In sacred music it is relaxed, no strong downbeats -In secular music (vocal/instruments) it is lively, frequent syncopation Melody: -Stepwise (conjunct) motion within moderately narrow range -Diatonic, some chromaticism used in MADRIGALS Harmony: -Not as much dissonance as medieval music -Consonant triad becomes basic building bloc of harmony Color: -More music has survived than middle Ages -Unaccompanied vocal music remains predominant sound Texture: -Polyphonic for four/five vocal lines -Predominantly imitative counterpoint MOTET: -Composition for choir, little Latin text, usually sacred subject -Drawn from Old Testament; Psalms -More vivid texts than those for MASS -Vivid texts resulted in equally dramatic musical setting -Sung acappella -Performed in church, chapel, home for private devotion Josquin Despres (1455-1521): -1st employed as singer in Italy -Egotistical personality -Recognized as genius (praised by Martin Luther, compared to Michelangelo because he paints the meaning of the words for the ears) Ave Maria 1485: -Opening closing couplets surrounding 5 stanzas of text in praise of Virgin Mary -Each stanza makes reference to one of her feast days during church year -Imitative counterpoint used -Imitations can occur between paired voices -Voices equal importance -Balance and symmetry prized by visual arts Counter Reformation & Palestrina: REFORMATION: -Began Oct. 31st 1571 by Martin Luther -Nailed theses on church door -Much of northern Europe joined reformation COUNTER REFORMATION: -Church of Rome reformed its administration and doctrine as well as art, liturgy, music -Reform aspects debated by church hierarchy during council of Trent 1545-1563 -only a minor part of their deliberations concerned music -objected to dense imitation that obscured the text -the music of Palestrina demonstrated that polyphony could be composed in a clear and dignified manner *Compositions=MOTET?S/MASSES MASS: polyphonic setting of 5 sections always & sung MASS ORDINARY: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei Mass for Pope Marcellus: -Most famous composition -Demonstrated polyphony can be clear and not obscure Aetema Christia Munera (Eternal Gifts of Christ): -Polyphony based on Gregorian Chant -Each phrase of chant provides point of imitation in Palestrina?s setting of the Mass Ordinary MADRIGAL: -Composition for several solo voices (4-5 voices) -Men/women could sing these together, practice not allowed in sacred music -Sung accapella -Mostly intended for performance by amateur musicians -Text a secular poem, usually about love, in vernacular language -Genre began in Italy, soon popular in northern Europe (especially England) -Vivid musical imagery of text is important -Many different modes/styles existed within the composition -MADREGALISM (WORD PAINTING): produced musical gesture that exactly corresponded to meaning of the word Weelkes?s Madrigal: ?As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descendin? -Published 1601 -Part of a collection honoring Queen Elizabeth -Text of mediocre quality, but offers numerous possibilities for Madrigalisms