Renaissance+Assessment

1. The Renaissance led to the rediscovery of "the world and of man". It laid the foundation for the "dynamic world we know today". The Renaissance also changed the focus from god to mankind and nature and promoted the ideals of humanism and the progress of humans. Philosophy, science, art, and even in some cases religion all entered a metamorphic phase during the Renaissance. The Renaissance found inspiration in the ideal of reviving the Greco-Roman civilizations.

2. The Renaissance spanned a period of about 1400-1600.

3. The Motet is a piece of organized choral music with words. They first arose in the 13th century with the organum pieces in the tradition of Leonin and Perotin. __4 different vocal parts equal in importance. Latin words set to a variety of sacred texts, homophonic w/imitative polyphony__. One example is //Dominus regnavit// by Josquin des Prez

4. Madrigals were also also mostly a cappella a polyphonic. It dates to the early 16th century and was through-composed, meaning that every part was composed instead of being confined to the strophic forms that were common in much of the music composed in this period. One example is //Le nuove musiche,// a collection of madrigals by Giulio Caccini.

5. String - Viols (Viola de Gamba) Woodwind - Recorder Brass - Sackbutt Percussion - Tabor

6. Pavan - This was a solemn dance in duple meter. The corresponding dance involved formal stepping and stopping. Galliard - A fast dance in triple meter that often followed a Pavan. It generally has a very clear meter.

7. Instruments, technologically, advanced greatly during the Renaissance. This lead to a greater amount of written instrumental music, the precursor to the great instrumental music of the Baroque period. It also lead to shifting usages of instruments. For instance, the lute, which was perfected around the 16th century, came to disuse during the 16th and 17th centuries, being seen as old and dates compared to the new, technologically superior instruments.

8. The rise of the middle class corresponded to the increasing amount of available sheet music as a result of the Gutenberg moveable-type printing press. Thus, the middle class would have access to sheet music and music became much more common in non-castle and church settings. This was probably a primary cause for the use of the secular motet and the increase of secular music.

9. This piece is in triple meter and is homophonic. It is very lively and was probably a dance piece. It is also certainly secular music, as most sacred music was a cappella and definitely did not have percussion. This piece is in strophic form, the constantly repeating vocal and instrumental lines.

10. This lute piece was probably composed for the enjoyment of upper-class members of the countries that John Dowland travelled to. The first piece is a pavan, so it was for a very slow and stately dance. The second dance piece, a galliard, was for a slightly more lively dance in triple meter.

11. In this piece it sounds like there is Viol, harpsichord, recorder, and lute.

12. This piece is a polyphonic motet. It is clearly secular as its words are not Latin and describe an unrequited love.

13. It is believed that Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn. It is thought that Lady Green Sleeves was promiscuous or possibly a prostitute. Green also had sexual connotations during this time, being seen as the grass stains someone might have from making love outside. The piece "What Child is This" is set to the same music as Greensleeves.