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.