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MUS 101: Introduction to Music: 3-The Renaissance (ca 1450-1600)

The Renaissance Origins and Characteristics

•Increased trade between Italian and new European nation states
•Increased wealth and patronage of the arts by aristocracy and Church
•Rise of a middle class
*With the fall of Constantinople 1453, Greek scholars brought their libraries of Classical Greek and Roman writings to Italy.

 

 

 

 

  • Interest in classical philosophy led to renewed interest in the study of humanity as opposed to religion--Humanism

 Examples:      The Prince by Níccolo Machiavelli

The Education of a Christian Prince by Desiderius Erasmus

  • An increase in secular literature in the vernacular, as well as music
  • The rise of musician as full –time professionals
  • The rise of musician-patron relationships
  • The Protestant Reformation - Financial abuses of the Church led to protest by Martin Luther in  Germany in 1520., leading to the Protestant Reformantion Excommunication led him to found a new church based on more democratic principles
•Abolition of the priesthood
•Changing the liturgy from Latin to the vernacular—in his case High German (Hochdeutsch )
•Changed musical worship from Gregorian chant and complex polyphony performed by  professional singers to simple hymn tunes known as chorales.
 

The printing press-Information technology revolution

•Paper as a storage medium, gave us the first mass medium.

•Inspired, no doubt, by Middle Eastern models (originally from East Asia), the printing press was introduced by Johannes Guttenberg in 1450. The first major book to be printed was the Bible.  A page from a Guttenberg Bible is shown below.

 

 

The first book of music, Odhecaton, was published in 1501 by Ottavian Petrucci is a collection of polyphonic vocal music.

This targeted the upper and middle-class market looking for home entertainment.  

 

 

Franco-Flemish Composers

Many of the great early composers of the Renaissance came from Northern France and Flanders (now in Belgium).  Their writing is characterized by complex polyphony, both in sacred and secular music.

Guillaume de Dufay - August, c. 1397 – 27 November 1474) 

Composed sacred and secular works

“Se la face ay pale” (If my face is pale”—song in troubadour form

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SLRDmeP1gM

Se la face ay pale,
la cause est amer
c’est la principale
et tant m’est amer
amer qu’en la mer
me voudroye voir
or scet bien de voir
la belle a qui suis
que nul bien avoir
sans elle ne puis.

Se ay pesante male
de dueil a porter
cest amour est male
pour moy de porter
car soy deporter
ne veult de vouloir
fors qu'a son vouloir
obeisse et puis
q'elle a tel pooir
sans elle ne puis.

C’est la plus reale
qu’on puist regarder
de s’amour leiaule
ne me puis guarder
fol sui de agarder
ne faire devoir
d’amours recevoir
fors d’elle je cuij (cuis)
se ne veil douloir
sans elle ne puis.

If my face is pale,
the cause is loving.
That is the principal one,
And for me so bitter is
loving that into the sea
I want to send myself.
Now she can well see,
the lovely one I belong to,
that to have any well-being,
without her I cannot.

If I have a heavy load
of sorrow to carry,
it's that this love is painful
for me to bear.
For to please oneself
she will not consent;
only her wishes
may one obey. And since
she has such power,
without her I cannot.

She is the most regal woman
that one could look upon.
From loyal love for her
I cannot keep myself.
Foolish I am in resolving
to make it my duty
to receive love
only from her. I sought
to be unwilling to suffer;
without her I cannot.

 

 

Text and translation source: http://www0.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Se_la_face_ay_pale_(Guillaume_Dufay)

The Mass based on “Se la face ay pale” takes the melody, stretches it out and uses it like Gregorian chant as a cantus firmus. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VODbfs-LZA

 

Josquin des Prèz 1450-1521

The main composer represented in Odhecaton, and first mass media superstar. He travelled widely throughout France and Italy, working for various notable patrons, including the Vatican, the Duke of Ferrara.  Louis XII of France, etc.

“El Grillo” (The Cricket)  dates from his time in Ferrara (1503).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_EsMD6oDvI

Secular Polyphony--Different Churches; Different Approaches

The Catholic Church

•Gregorian chant still performed, but polyphony becomes more important.

•Important genres: Ordinary of the Mass
•Kyrie
•Credo
•Gloria
•Sanctus
•Agnus Dei
 

The basis  for the mass can be a Gregorian Chant, used as a melodic theme, or a folk tune, or popular tune.  An example is the “Western Wind Mass” by the English composer,

John Tavener (c. 1490 – 18 October 1545), based on a English folksong.   Here is the original folksong in a 14th-Century arrangement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqBzLfev2XM

Here is the Gloria from the Tavener mass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1DLCy2AtrE

 

 
 
 

Gregorian chan wast still performed, but polyphony became more important.

Important genres: The motet—through-composed Latin text-based piece with imitation.  An example is  “Noe, Noe, Noe, psallite” (Sing ye, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas) by the French composer, Jean Mouton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNvAOKJ_yec

  Another notable example is Josquin des Prèz "Ave Maria".  The following video is a graphic display of how the vocal parts move. Note the varying in texture between four, three, and two voices. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXMZoKofu7g

 Latin text

Ave Maria, Gratia plena,
Dominus tecum, Virgo serena.
Ave, cuius Conceptio,
Solemni plena gaudio,
Caelestia, Terrestria,
Nova replet laetitia.
Ave, cuius Nativitas
Nostra fuit solemnitas,
Ut lucifer lux oriens
Verum solem praeveniens.
Ave pia humilitas,
Sine viro fecunditas,
Cuius Annuntiatio
Nostra fuit salvatio.
Ave vera virginitas,
Immaculata castitas,
Cuius Purificatio
Nostra fuit purgatio.
Ave, praeclara omnibus
Angelicis virtutibus,
Cuius fuit Assumptio
Nostra fuit glorificatio.
O Mater Dei,
Memento mei. Amen.
 

English translation

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee, serene Virgin.
Hail, thou whose Conception,
Full of great joy,
Fills heaven and earth
With new gladness.
Hail, thou whose Nativity
Became our great celebration,
As the light-bearing Morning Star
anticipates the true Sun.
Hail, faithful humility,
Fruitful without man,
Whose Annunciation
Was our salvation.
Hail, true virginity,
Immaculate chastity,
Whose Purification
Was our cleansing.
Hail, glorious one
In all angelic virtues,
Whose Assumption
Was our glorification.
O Mother of God,
Remember me. Amen.

The Lutheran Church

 

Martin Luther (1483-1546) 

 

Chorale tunes—like the motet, they are bible based texts, but the songs are strophic, with the main melody in the tenor (high men’s) part.  In the 16th Century, they were set polyphonically.  Luther himself wrote many hymns.  Others were written in collaboration with Johan Walter. His most famous chorale tune is the official hymn of the  Lutheran Church, “Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott” (A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

 

The original monophonic melody  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI7QMtXBLgY

The original 16th-century polyphonic setting   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB4olGEbmcc

 

The Anglican (English) Church

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) 

 

Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church because he wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon because she didn’t give him a son.   In the early 1530s, he formed the Church of England, with him as the head.  He made a vast fortune by confiscating all the Church property. 

Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) turned  the  Anglican Church into a truly Protestant Church, changing the liturgy from Latin to English

 

 

William Byrd  (c.1539/40 or 1543 – 4 July 1623)  

 

Was a Catholic in Protestant England, which made him politically suspect.  He wrote music for the royal court , and had to agree to spy for Elizabeth’s spymaster, Lord Walshingham. Similar to the Catholic motet, the Anglican anthem is a through-composed, polyphonic vocal piece based on the bible. Here is a famous example by Byrd. 

Anthem:  Sing Joyfully
William Byrd (1543-1623)
Source of text: Psalm 81: 1-4 (Geneva Bible)

 

Sing joyfully to God our strength; sing loud unto the God of Jacob!
Take the song, bring forth the timbrel, the pleasant harp, and the viol.
Blow the trumpet in the new moon, even in the time appointed, and at our feast day.
For this is a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHHriVrcpmQ

Secular vocal music

Spain-The Villancico

•Derived from medieval dance forms, the 15th century Spanish villancico was a type of popular song sung in the vernacular and frequently associated with rustic themes. The poetic form of the Spanish villancico was that of an estribillo (or refrain) and coplas (stanzas), with or without an introduction. While the exact order and number of repetitions of the estribillo and coplas varied, the most typical form was a loose ABA framework, often in triple meter, ABA framework. (Wikipedia)
•An example is “La tricotea”
The Madrigal
•Originates in  Italy, deriving from simpler more chordal styles like the frottola—an example of which is  Josquin des Prèz “El Grillo.”  He wrote it around 1503  during his service to Cardinal Ascanio.  One of the singers in the chorus he directed was surnamed Giglio, who everyone jokingly called El Grillo (the cricket).  Josquin playfully uses word painting. using the music to illustrate the meaning of the words. For example the phrase "Che tiene longo verso," (who sings a long note) stretches out the word "verso."

Italian text

El grillo è buon cantore
Che tiene longo verso.
Dalle beve grillo canta.
Ma non fa come gli altri uccelli
Come li han cantato un poco,
Van de fatto in altro loco
Sempre el grillo sta pur saldo,
Quando la maggior el caldo
Alhor canta sol per amore.

English translation

The cricket is a good singer
He can sing very long
He sings all the time.
But he isn't like the other birds.
If they've sung a little bit
They go somewhere else
The cricket remains where he is
When the heat is very fierce
Then he sings only for love.

Text and translation from ChoralWiki

•Rich princely families in the Italian city states want to show off their wealth through patronizing artists, eg. Leonardo da Vinci, and in having elegant sophisticated music. 
•Madrigals have very literary texts written by the most notable poets in Italy.
•The music is written by Northerners from France and the  Netherlands (Ultramontani, "From over the mountains"), and is highly polyphonic.  Most are through composed with much word painting to illustrate the meaning of the words.
 
One of the great early masters was the Frenchman Jacques Arcadelt (c 1507-1568). An example of his work is “Il bianco e dolce cigno”  (The White and Sweet Swan”). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HLGQL7Vnac
Source: ChoralWiki
 
Germany- Lied (plural, Lieder)​
•Influenced by polyphonic Italian madrigals
•Notable examples are by the composer Ludwig Senfl

Source: ChoralWiki

France-Chansons

Influenced by polyphonic Italian madrigals, some were published for home entertainment. Others were more vituosic, and were intended as entertainment for noble patrons, performed by professionals. . Most notable were the Parisian School of composers, a prominent exponent was Clément Janequin (1485 – 1558) .  His "Chant des Oiseaux" (Song of the Birds) has a series of verses, each through composed to match each bird call, but is interspersed with a refrain "Reveille vous" (Wake up!).  As shown in the following video, it was probably one of those songs meant for home music making.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx2k3R_ACls

French text

Reveillez vous, coeurs endormis
Le dieu d’amour vous sonne.
A ce premier jour de may,
Oyseaulx feront merveillez,
Pour vous mettre hors d’esmay
Destoupez vos oreilles.
Et farirariron (etc…)
Vous serez tous en ioye mis,
Car la saison est bonne.

Vous orrez, à mon advis,
Une dulce musique
Que fera le roy mauvis (le merle aussi)
D’une voix autentique.
Ty, ty, pyty. (etc…)
Rire et gaudir c’es mon devis,
Chacun s’i habandonne.

Rossignol du boys ioly,
A qui le voix resonne,
Pour vous mettre hors d’ennuy
Vostre gorge iargonne:
Frian, frian, frian (etc…)
Fuiez, regrez, pleurs et souci,
Car la saison l’ordonne.

Ariere maistre coucou,
Sortez de no chapitre.
Chacun vous donne au bibou,
Car vous n’estes q’un traistre.
Coucou, coucou (etc…)
Par traison en chacun nid,
Pondez sans qu’on vous sonne.

Reveillez vous, coeurs endormis,
Le dieu d’amours vous sonne.

English translation

Rouse yourselves, sleeping hearts,
The god of love calls you.
You should all be joyful
For spring is come.
The birds, all inspired,
Do wonders with their song;
Listen well to their ditty,
Bend your ears.
And…
…
You, what are you saying?
The little starling of Paris,
The little thing: (who’s there?
Pass, knave. By the holy head of God
It is time to go drinking)
Wise, courteous and well versed.
Go to the sermon, my mistress.
Get thee to Mass, Madam.
To St. Trotin to show your tits
And sweet looks.
…
…Who wants it?
Cuckoo, cuckoo…
…
…
…
Cuckoo, where is the cuckoo?
Away, go away, master Cuckoo,
Get out of our company.
You will never be missed
For you are nothing but a traitor.
Treacherously, in every nest
You lay without being called.

 

Rouse yourselves, etc..

 

Source: ChoralWiki

 

On the other hand, Janequin's chanson "La Guerre" (The War) was clearly meant for performance at the court of King Francis I to celebrate his military triumphs.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsNQ0d26ipw

 

Source: ChoralWiki

 

Instrumental Music

Dance Music

•Social dancing was popular with upper and middle classes.  Along with singing or playing an instrument, it was considered one of the social graces.  Dances teachers would travel from town to town teaching the latest choreographies (many of these teachers were Jewish). 

Books on dances with floor diagrams, hand positions and music were published. 

•It was customary to alternate a slow dance, such as a pavan with a faster dances such as a galliard.
 
 
 
Musical Instruments in the Renaissance

Reed instruments include the crumhorn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OOvW3shNmI

Dulician (like a bassoon), bombard ( like a large, loud oboe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxPB76pmWss

Brass instruments

Cornetto—like trumpet with fingering like recorder

Sackbut—narrow-tubed trombone of varyng sizes --https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q5AGcq3_kc

Recorders --https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXkRgUvY6PM

String Instruments

•Viola – in all sizes.  A group is known as a chest of viols.
 
•Lute—The Queen of Instruments
 
•Fantasia by John Dowland buried 20 February 1626) 
 
Lute Songs and the Economics of the Elizabethan Music Business
 
Madrigals were popular as a social activity in Elizabethan England. In order to increase sales, composer/publishers had to offer more ways to sell music. Pictured below is a "table book" of Dowland's madrigal and lute song "Can She Excuse My Wrongs."  You can see the four-way orientation by which groups of people around a square table could see it from all angles to sing or play all parts from one book.   You will see a lute part written in a fingering notation known as tablature.
 

 The following performance by Sting and the Bosnian lutenist Eden Karamazov shows four different versions of this piece: voice with lute accompaniment, ornamented lute duet, madrigal for four voices, and madrigal with the lute joining in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntri9OfaRY

The dilemma for composers and publishers was that there were rarely any copyrights, and those only within your own country if the ruler favored you.  The only way to keep ahead of piracy and continue to make money was to keep publishing new material, or at least novel new arrangements of existing woks.  Over the course of his life Dowland published many versions of his pieces. "Can She Excuse My Wrongs" was also published as an instrumental galliard, "The Earl of Essex's Galliard" in several versions.

For lute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgWHknjD0wA

For instrumental ensemble (here a group of recorders of different sizes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXkRgUvY6PM

Or for lute with instrumental ensemble https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbpJoLUmPdY