THE MUSIC OF THE REFORMATION

1. THE MUSIC OF THE REFORMATION By Kaya Nishimura and Alice Crawford.

2. The Reformation The Reformation was a religious movement that occurred in Western Europe during the 16th century that resulted in a divide in Christianity between Roman Catholics and Protestants. This movement “created a North-South split in Europe, where generally Northern countries became Protestant, while Southern countries remained Catholic.”

3. Where it began: With the rise of humanism, sacred music began for the first time to break free of the confines of the Church, and a school of composers trained in the Netherlands mastered the art of polyphony in their settings of sacred music.

4. How music effected the Church: Secular music thrived during this period, and instrumental and dance music was performed in abundance, if not always written down. It was left for others to collect and notate the wide variety of irrepressible instrumental music of the period. The late Renaissance also saw in England the flourishing of the English madrigal, the best known of which were composed by such masters as John Dowland, William Byrd, Thomas Morley and others.

5. How music effected the Church: Music in the Church was, as it still is, very important. Also, like today, it was very important to everyday secular living. Once the reformation was fully underway, and it began to seep into the lives and the ways of people, it would undoubtedly begin to change music. In fact, the change in music almost began immediately in the newly formed churches. 

6. Martin Luther’s music. Music had a tremendous personal impact in his life. While under the ban of the Holy Roman Emperor and excommunicated by Pope Leo X, Luther had to stay in the castle of Coburg, while his patron, Prince Elector Johann of Saxony, went to the Diet at Augsburg to defend a confession of faith.

7. Martins music