Dufay
(1400-1474) French composer who worked in Italy for 25 years. He then returned to France and became a celebrity for working in the cathedral of Cambrai. Wrote “Ave Maris Stella”
Josquin Desprez
(1450-1521) The first master of the Renaissance style, born in france worked in Italy. Wrote “Pange lingua Mass” and “Mille regrets”
Palestrina
(1525-1594) Choirmaster of several of Rome’s most famous chapels and churches including the Sistine chapel during the counter-reformation. Wrote the “Pope Marcellus Mass”
Weekles
Weelkes: (1575-1623) English choirmaster. Wasn’t the best church choirmaster but was a very good composer. One of the best composers of the Madrigal. Wrote “As Vesta Was from Latmos Hill Descending”.
Hymn
Hymn: A simple religious song with several stanzas sung to the same melody
Mass
Mass: The music of the main Roman Catholic service. Consists of five large sections. Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Angus Dei.
Chanson
Chanson: French for song. A genre of French secular vocal music.
Madrigal
Madrigal: The main secular vocal genre of the Renaissance.
Instrumental dances
instrumental dances: Renaissance dances the most popular of which were the pavan and the galliard.
Renaissance
“Rebirth” a time period in which the world changed in it’s thought process leaning towards the more secular side of things rather than the focus on God that was prevalent in Medieval times.
paraphrase technique
A technique that smoothed out the complexity of the original plainchant and made it a melody that was easily listened to.
Kyrie
1 a simple prayer that begins the Catholic Mass
Gloria
2 a long hymn that comes second in the Catholic Mass
Sanctus
4 another, shorter hymn in the Catholic Mass
Agnus Dei
5 another simple prayer in the Catholic Mass
Homophony
a musical texture that involves only one melody of real interest, combined with chords or other subsidiary sounds.
equalvoiced polyphony
where two or more voices perform different parts, while maintaining the same level of importance as the others.
imitative counterpoint
a polyphonic musical texture in which the various melodic lines use approximately the same themes; as opposed to the non-imitative counterpoint.
points of imitation
a short passage of imitative polyphony based on a single theme, or on two used together
a cappella
choral music for voices alone, without instruments
the Sforzas of Milan and the Estes of Ferrara:
patrons of Josquin Desperez
Declamation
the way words are set to music in terms of rhythm, accent, ect.
word painting
musical illustration of the meaning of a word or short verbal phrase
pavane
a slow 16th century court dance in duple meter
galliard
a renaissance court dance in triple meter
jig:
an early dance that includes irregular candaces that may sometimes throw off the dancer.
Credo
3 recital of Catholic beliefs in the Mass