Unit 2: Renaissance

15th – 17th century

What is an interval? What is Fauxbourdon? What is a key? Why didn’t they call stacked intervals “chords”

in the Renaissance period? What is the difference between monophony

and homophony? What is polyphony?

REVIEW:

Sacred Secular

Song Types

Mass Motet Madrigal

Chanson

Frottola

Strictly in Latin, music as part of church service

Religious poetry of sorts, combined both sacred and secular styles

Renaissance “folk songs,” a wide

variety of styles and purposes, all very expressive in poetry and music

Motet: Lamentatio Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae

Constantinopolitanae Language: Vernacular French = Secular! Words: Metaphor of mother with God’s son = Sacred! Topic: Lament for Constantinople (Christian war story) = both!

Musical Content: Instrument, polyphonic/counterpoint = Secular

Kyrie: L'homme arméLanguage: Latin = SacredMusical Content: Original melody is French Folk song = Secular! Cantus Firmus melody and strict harmonies = Sacred!

Dufay ExamplesMerging Sacred and

Secular

Johannes Ockeghem (1410-1497): Franco-Flemish School Sacred: (Kyrie) Missa Prolationum (Progressive

Canon) Secular: Prenez Sur Moi (Imitative Chanson, three

voices)

Lorenzo De’ Medici (1449-1492): Italian politician Secular: Street-performed carnival songs: Sian

Galanti De Valenza

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594):

Roman School Sacred: Sicut Cervus (four-voice imitative motet)

Harmonies created with polyphonyDifferent Styles

Similar Styles – Different School

After Dufay:

Sacred Used in church

(mass) In Latin (or strictly

religious-themed words) Structured function:

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei

Still held most power, money, and educational resources

Secular Used in courts,

streets, ceremonies, festivals…

In Vernacular (The language of the

people in the area) Varied function and

meaning Based on poetry or

expressing emotion Text-painting!

Let’s Review!

Step 1: Pick one of your favorite school-appropriate

songs. (It should have a catchy melody, easy to sing) Step 2: Get approved by Miss Lee – she’ll help you find

“do” and work out solfege notes Step 3: Use solfege to put the melody into the key of C

(easiest key to write music in) Step 4: Make your song into Renaissance music using

Fauxbourdon or imitative polyphony, or both!

EXAMPLE: “Dime” by Cake

Renaissance Song Project!