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Chapter 6 The Renaissance

New Attitudes

Middle Ages VS Renaissance

Middle Ages VS Renaissance

Key Terms
Renaissance Paraphrase Hymn Mass Chansons

Renaissance Timeline

The Renaissance
French word meaning rebirth Refers to 15th and 16th centuries Revival of ancient Greek and Roman culture, especially in arts and sciences New ideals and values focus on human experience and perception
Observation the basis of scientific method Sensory experience guided the arts

New Attitudes
Humanism
Focus on human life and experience slowly replaced focus on religious doctrine, afterlife

Exploration
Voyages of discovery and conquest by Columbus, Magellan, and others

Classicism
Rediscovery of language, literature, art, philosophy, and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome

New Attitudes
Reformation
Power of Catholic Church shaken by Martin Luther, Jean Calvin, King Henry VIII, et al.

The printing press


Gutenberg invented movable type c. 1450 Incalculable effect on literacy and education

Art
Golden age: Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Titian, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, da Vinci Inspired by the ancients, artists depicted their world with a new realism

New Attitudes
Music
Favors beautiful, a cappella sonorities Consonant harmonies prevail, dissonances carefully controlled Varied textures mix imitative polyphony and homophony Increasingly attempts to express human feelings

Middle Ages vs. Renaissance


Compare Machauts Quant en moy with Palestrinas Pope Marcellus Mass
Pitch and melody Harmony Scale, key and mode Rhythm and tempo Dynamics Texture Tone color

Middle Ages vs. Renaissance


Compared with Machaut, Palestrinas:
Melodies are simpler, more singable Harmonies are richer, more beautiful Modes are similar, but he creates greater stability and clear sense of direction Rhythms are simpler, following the words Varied textures create different weights Textures mix homophony and polyphony Rich tone color features six voices a cappella

Paraphrase
Pre-existing tunes in medieval organum often distorted beyond recognition Renaissance paraphrase technique values melodic character of borrowed material
Chant melody given specific meter & rhythms Melody embellished with extra notes Emphasis on sensuous aspect of chant

Early Homophony
Paraphrased melodies emphasized, placed in the top voice Melody supported by polyphonic voices But these voices move together with melody, creating simple chords Result sounds less polyphonic, more homophonic (melody & accompaniment) Plainchant harmonization emphasizes sonorous effect of rich chords

Dufay, Ave maris stella


Based on plainchant hymn Strophic form Odd verses sung as chant Even verses use paraphrase of chant melody Even verses also add simple chordal accompaniment (homophonic setting) Simple, smooth, gracious harmonization of hymn

Translation
1. Hail, bright star of ocean, God's own Mother blest, Ever sinless Virgin, Gate of heavenly rest. 2. Taking that sweet Ave. Which from Gabriel came, Peace confirm within us, Changing Eva's name. 3. Break the captives' fetters, Light on blindness pour, All our ills expelling, Every bliss implore. 4. Show thyself a Mother; May the Word Divine, Born for us thy Infant, Hear our prayers through thine. 5. Virgin all excelling, Mildest of the mild, Freed from guilt, preserve us, Pure and undefiled. 6. Keep our life all spotless, Make our way secure, Till we find in Jesus, Joy forevermore. 7. Through the highest heaven To the Almighty Three, Father, Son and Spirit, One same glory be. Amen.

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