Renaissance- Music & Dance

1. Renaissance- Music & Dance 1450-1600 The “Re-birth” into the Arts

2. Important Historical concepts • Rebirth of classical learning • Rediscovery & reevaluation of Ancient Greek & Roman writings • Change from Feudalism to modern state • Began in Northern Italy • Hierarchal state- Nobility class & Working class • Change in view of the earth & space • Columbus, Magellan, Gallelio- challenged old earth-centered universe concept

3. Changes in the Music field • Arts became an important measure of learning and culture • Music became more of an expressive art rather than just a science • Rise & Spread of printed music made access much easier • Patrons of music expanded to include the rich & governments, as well as the church • Travel & exploration helped create a more international style of music

4. 3 Areas of Music • Sacred Music • Motet & Mass • Most recognized international style • Secular Music • Music written in style of country • Italian Madrigal • French Chanson • Instrumental Music • Rise of printed music encouraged more amateurs to learn music • Specific types emerged • Common features • More polyphony- move to four voices/instruments • Smooth, gentle rhythms • Melodies with balanced phrases • Harmonies using triads • Vocal forms reflected poetic forms • Dances were in binary form (2 sections- verse & chorus)

5. Composers • JosquinDesprez • 1440-1521, French Composer • Style of music compared to art of Michaelangelo & Da Vinci • Studied music as a choir boy & worked for the Church • Composed mostly vocal music • Brought out expression in texts • Samples: • Ave Maria • Absalon, fili mi • Claudio Monteverdi • 1567-1643, Italian Composer • First great composer of Opera • Used music to make very dramatic statements • Used music to convey meaning of texts • Published his first pieces by age 15 • Famous for his madrigals • Samples: • CrudaAmarilli • Possentespirto

6. Renaissance Instruments Bagpipe Recorder & Flute - Primarily used for popular or folk music - Came in various sizes- Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Sackbut -smaller ancestor of the trombone, brass instrument Shawm Viol - Used in a way that Brass instruments are used today, loud sounding • Similar to violin, except had 6 strings instead or 4. • 2 types- viola da braccia- held on the arm, viola da gamba- held between the legs

7. Renaissance Dance- 3 types • Country Dance • Fast speeds • Done in villages for fun & celebration • Musicians accompanied dancers • Rougher Choreography than Court Dances • Courtly Dance • Nobles danced to SHOW OFF their clothing, grace, skills • Used for courtship- men & women together • Children’s Dance • Way of play • “Ring around the Rosey”- related to the black plague • Foundation for future dancing • Courtly Dance- lead to Ballet • Country dance- lead to square dancing & line dancing

8. Domenico da Piacenza • Renaissance Dancing Master • Choreographed Court dances • Worked for nobility in Italy • Began a dance school & wrote a manual about dance