Bibliography

"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Music in the Renaissance. Web. 21 May 2012. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/renm/hd_renm.htm>.


"Renaissance." Renaissance. Web. 21 May 2012. 
<http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm>.


"The Florentine - Article » Renaissance Florentine Opera." The Florentine. Web. 21 May 2012. <http://www.theflorentine.net/articles/article-view.asp?issuetocId=89>.


"Music Printing in the Renaissance." Music Printing in the Renaissance. Web. 21 May 2012. <http://www.pnelsoncomposer.com/writings/MusicPrintingRenaissance.html>.


"Renaissance Music (1450-1600)." Renaissance Music (1450-1600). Web. 21 May 2012. <http://www.rpfuller.com/gcse/music/renaissance.html>.

How was music communicated?

The particular "language" of late Italian Renaissance music was able to convey meaning from composers to listeners. 



A good example of communicating music is provided by the opening measures of Marenzio's madrigal "Mi fa lasso languire." This is where the textual incipit is made to correspond to the Guidonian syllables mi-fa-la-sol-la-mi-re.


Upon singing or listening to the notes "E-F-a-G#-a-E-D", performers and listeners would immediately think of the syllables: mi-fa-la-sol-la-mi-re. They would appreciate the wit of the correspondence between these syllables and the first verse of the madrigal. In this way, this adds an extra layer of meaning to the musical setting of a poetic text. 


It is true that Italian Renaissance musicians enjoyed "extracting" musical subjects from the syllables of the text. Such as several compositions with soggetti cavati or fatti sulle vocali. In these cases, the syllables of the text are normally made to correspond with the most obvious solmization of the passage. 

How did people listen to music? How was music taught and transferred?

During the Renaissance, the Italian people listened to music by attending church, orchestras/concerts and festivals.


In Italy, the music grew out of a different and more spiritual tradition, particularly the lay confraternities in Florence during the 12th and 13th centuries. These were groups which were formed under the Dominican, Franciscan and mendicant orders who devoted themselves to God and doing good deeds. Several different types of confraternities formed but the one that stood out was the laudesi company. These companies organized their own services and also met each evening to sing laude. The "laude" was very essential during the Italian Renaissance because it was a sacred song. Since the laude was sung by members of the company, they were originally monophonic. However, in the beginning of the 14th and early 15th centuries, things have changed. Singers were paid for their services, instrumentalists were hired and the number of singers increased. By 1470 and the 16th century, companies had established choirs of around five to eleven singers who could perform three or four-part polyphony.


Also, most countries (including Italy) had wealthy families who would teach their daughters numerous instruments and they were required to perform for them in the evenings. For major events, such as balls, people would gather around and listen to the orchestra being performed. Music was used for either religious purposes or entertainment purposes. Since singing was mostly performed in churches, people would sing and listen to each other.

Since the printing press was invented during the Renaissance, this allowed music to be printed in a quicker way. Since books were expensive during that time, the printing press changed things. It made the manuscripts cheaper and more people bought sheet music. This way, music was taught and transferred from generation to generation. The printing press made it easier for people to learn how to play certain instruments and they used these sheets to perform in choirs, orchestras, etc. 

How was music used for ritual/social gatherings?

In Italy, music was used for a lot of social gatherings. Examples would be festivals and churches. Music was used for dancing, singing and other entertainment purposes. 

Music was generally used as a symbol of the city's cultural achievements. The Italian festivals were celebrated twice per year. All of the citizens would gather in the streets and participate in processions, singing, dancing and revelry. This indicates that music was highly used for entertainment. The evening festivals were quite elaborative and involved collaborations between artists, poets, composers and musicians. The first thing they had to do was to visualize the concept and text for a particular carnival song and later, presenting their creation on a float with costumes, singers and musicians. Before music was starting to develop in Italy, the instruments used were mostly wind instruments. However, as time passed by, three instrumental ensembles were all in clear formation. These were the pifferi (3 shawm players), trombetti (5-6 trumpet players) and the trombadori (8-10 players), which also includes 6 large trumpet players, 1 drummer and a cenamella player. These were known as the "civic groups".

Opera was also a huge development during the Italian Renaissance. Opera was used for weddings, festivals and even for churches. Opera mostly focused on vocals. This style of music was very dramatic and added twists to it. The churches in Italy also supported music through rewards. Since religion was very essential during the Renaissance, the churches became very powerful. These churches were the Roman Catholic churches. Music for church rituals was very important, as complex masses, motets and hymns were being composed. 

Music, in Italy, was mostly used for cultural and religious purposes. People would either listen, sing or play the instruments for the occasions. Music was very essential during that time, as it was used for concerts, leisure time and religious wise. 

Italian music? During the Renaissance?

Since the Renaissance was originated in Italy, there's no mistaking that music was developed in Italy. Musical activities in Italy were exploding with new ideas and development. New features were also recognized with new styles and forms. The significant forms were the ballata, Trecento madrigal and caccia. The musical style of that period is labelled as the "Italian ars nova".

Church music was highly popular during the Italian Renaissance and the centre of church music was in the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, etc). The result of this was that many talented musicians came to Italy from this region. They came to Italy to perform in choirs at chapels or they would sing in the papal choirs in Rome. Also, they influenced many Italian composers when they performed. They performed in Rome, Venice, Florence and many other cities.

The predominant forms of church music were the mass and the motet. The most famous composer of church music was Palestrina. Palestrina was best known as being the representative of the Roman school (for composing) in the 16th Century. His style of music was quite emotional and smooth. Other Italian musicians mainly focused on composing the madrigal. The madrigal was a vocal music of the Renaissance and the Baroque era. Composers during that time included Luca Marenzio, Phillipe de Monte, Carlo Gesualdo and Claudio Monteverdi.


 Instruments started to develop around that time, as well. Italy was musically centered in Europe. Many instruments were invented, such as the violin. 

Music during the Renaissance?

Since the Renaissance means "rebirth", it's no wonder that music has changed and grew into something more grande and creative. During that period, people found information from ancient Greek and Roman texts and that's when the rebirth of knowledge began. Wealth was increased, as well as the knowledge of medicine, arts and other sciences. Music during the Renaissance was grande and very creative. Back then, people found the Renaissance music very appeasing but as of today's time, we find them quite strange. This was because most of the composers during that time composed their pieces using modes, instead of major and minor scales.

There are two main types of Renaissance music. They were the church music (also known as "sacred music" and non-church music. They also had folk music but it wasn't much in use because the thought that it was for "common" people.

Musically, the Renaissance is also known as the "Golden Age" because of the "a capella" style. By this, it basically means singers without any use of any instruments. Vocal music was highly favoured and significant during the Renaissance. An example of this would be opera. Madrigals were also quite popular during that time. Madrigals are non-religious music and they were usually love songs. These song forms were performed in groups of 4,5 or 6 singers.

There was also the growth of instrumental music. Instruments such as the piano and lute were invented. This was the time when families of instruments started to develop. These families were known as consorts (in the present, we call in "concert").