Renaissance Music

Music is always in a constant cycle of change. Over 2000 years, the traditional customs of Western music was no different. Due to the social and religious developments that took place in Europe during these periods of time, concepts such as notes, scales, intervals, ideas all told stories about the character and lives of people through music. Music is a form that is defined as an expression of emotion through sound. To history, music is more than that. Utilizing what we know, recognizing familiar instruments, language, melodies, and composition, our basic knowledge can expand to make sense of not only what music was like, but what past cultures were like. In the European culture, there is a deep impact on civilization that took place before …show more content…
New developments like the printing press lead to the disbursement of knowledge, the study of the universal man combined art and thinking, and explorations all shaped the era of human learning and creativity throughout Europe. The Renaissance was the beginning of modern times and change. Artists like Leonardo and Raphael interpreted their art in a more realistic way. Factors such as perspective, and anatomy replaced symbolism. Often music was reflected in these paintings, giving us today a good idea of what it was like. Writings of ancient Greece and Rome led to a renewed interest in learning in general, and literature, scientists, inventions, and philosophy all flourished. The invention of the compass allowed exploration to go further. Great thinkers such as Galileo and Copernicus made strides in discovering the world around us. The decline of the Catholic church was led by Martin Luther 's Protestant Reformation. Once the Catholic Church lost its power over society, humanism came about. This new philosophy showcased itself in Shakespeare’s play writing, the painting and sculptures of Michelangelo, and in the sacred and secular instrumental and vocal music of the greatest composers of the era. Music during the Renaissance took a major shift from the church to the courts, becoming more secular. Musicians and composers began working for the members of aristocracy. Court composers wrote music for secular court functions and chapel. In stretto fashion, melodies overlapped rhythmically and was based on perfect time. Sacred music still played a major role in the church. There were two main forms: motet and vernacular. Motet was a short composition with polyphonic choral work. Vernacular, a latin text overlaid with another language, usually borrowed a basis and frequency directly from a part of chant in mass. Mass allowed composers in the church to make new music and keep traditions at the same time. However, not