Esc. Antolina Vélez
Renaissance Period
1400 - 1600
Artists and Composers
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Leonardo DaVinci
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Michelangelo
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Raphael
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Titan
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Donatello
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Thomas Tallis
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Josquin Des Prez
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Pierre de la Rue
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Claudio Monteverdi
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William Byrd
Characteristics
The increasing reliance on the interval of the third as a consonance is one of the most pronounced features of early Renaissance European art music (in the Middle Ages, thirds had been considered dissonances: see interval). Polyphony, in use since the 12th century, became increasingly elaborate with highly independent voices throughout the 14th century: the beginning of the 15th century showed simplification, with the voices often striving for smoothness. This was possible because of a greatly increased vocal range in music—in the Middle Ages, the narrow range made necessary frequent crossing of parts, thus requiring a greater contrast between them.
The modal (as opposed to tonal) characteristics of Renaissance music began to break down towards the end of the period with the increased use of root motions of fifths. This has since developed into one of the defining characteristics of tonality.
Principal liturgical forms which endured throughout the entire Renaissance period were masses and motets, with some other developments towards the end, especially as composers of sacred music began to adopt secular forms (such as the madrigal) for their own designs.
Common sacred genres were the mass, the motet, the madrigale spirituale, and the laude.
Secular vocal genres included the madrigal, the frottola, the caccia, the chanson in several forms (rondeau, virelai, bergerette, ballade, musique mesurée), the canzonetta, the villancico, the villanella, the villotta, and the lute song. Mixed forms such as the motet-chanson and the secular motet also appeared.
Purely instrumental music included consort music for recorder or viol and other instruments, and dances for various ensembles. Common genres were the toccata, the prelude, the ricercar, the canzona, and intabulation (intavolatura, intabulierung). Instrumental ensembles for dances might play a basse danse (or bassedanza), a pavane, a galliard, an allemande, or a courante. Towards the end of the period, the early dramatic precursors of opera such as monody, the madrigal comedy, and the intermedio are seen.
History
This time was one that gave place to many innovating ideas. We can see how some of the greatest art work and artist were produced in history. This took place in Italy were the leaders got inspiered from the ancient Greek and roman civilizations. If you visit Rome, Florence or other cities you will find incredible art and arquitechture from this period. Renaissance means “rebirth”.
This age begun when a group of scholars and writers started seeking for ancient knowledge. These looked back to ancient Greece and Rome, at a time where philosophy, architecture, art, literature were in their most high development. In the 1300’s these group of scholars called themselves: “humanists”; and when they mentioned the medieval period they would call it: “The Dark Ages”. These scholars wanted to bring the light to their time, bring back knowledge, education, culture and innovation.
Most of authors of the ancient Greek and Rome had died over 1000 years before, but their writings survived in monasteries. The monks had been for centuries making copies by hand of these books. In the middle ages not too much people read them but the humanist began looking for them.
Giovanni Boccaccio in the mid 1300’s wrote a book about the bubonic plague, it was called; “ The Decameron” .In 1450 Johannes Gutenburg perfected the movable type and eventually had made the mechanical printing press. His first book was the Gutenburg Bible. With the printing thousands of copies of the bible, the decameron and other books where available for everyone.
The humanists also looked and worked in archeological sites to learn and discover ancient artwork and architecture. After this different artists began working in “classical styles”
Filippo Brunelleschi, a renaissance arquitect was hired in Florence. He made in 1418 a huge dome on top of the city’s cathedral. Florence was an independent state by this time, it was not rule by a king or queen. This made it a perfect place for new ideas to come up. There was a family that gain much power and influence, also they had came to dominate the political scene and they had made their money in banking; this family is the Medicis. This family gave the humanist the financial support through part of the 1400’s and 1500’s.
Being different from the middle ages, were they made religious painting, in the renassaince they also painted Greek and Roman mythology and portraits of real people. Painters also developed the linear perspective. Scientist wanted to learn more about anatomy and artist and physicians worked together.Leonardo da Vinci and Michael Angelo worked with physicians to make autopsies on dead bodies, to learn how the body worked. Famous works were done like the sculpture of David and the painting of Mona Lisa.
