Higher Early Music

1. Higher Early Music

2. Renaissance A style of music from the period from about 1450 to 1600, i.e. pre Baroque.

3. Before continuing with this unit an important melodic and harmonic issue to note is:- Modes and Modal In the Renaissance period it was normal to speak about modes or music being modal. This term was used before the development of major and minor keys. Although you do not need to name them the different modes are outlined for you below.

4. Vocal Music

5. Latin Word Setting

6. Plainchant Also known as plainsong and Gregorian Chant. Audio clip • Unaccompanied melody set to words of the Roman • Catholic liturgy, such as the Mass. • Plainchants are modal and have no regular metre. • They follow the rhythm of the Latin words.

7. The Mass • A sacred choral work using the Six main sections of the Roman Catholic church liturgy. • Features of the Mass include:- • Latin text and polyphonic texture. • In the Renaissance usually sung a capella. • Post Renaissance a large-scale work for chorus, soloists and orchestra.

8. The Six main parts of the Mass can be recognised by their words. The sections are:- Kyrie – “Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison” Audio clip Gloria – “Gloria in excelsis Deo” Audio clip Credo – “Credo in unum Deum” Audio clip Sanctus – “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth” Audio clip Benedictus – “Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini” Audio clip Agnus Dei – “Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi” Audio clip

9. Motet • In the Renaissance era this was a sacred choral work with Latin text. • It normally has a polyphonic texture. • It was usually sung A cappella. Audio clip Audio clip

10. English Word Setting

11. Renaissance vocal works can be split in to two categories . They are detailed below.

12. Madrigal Proper Audio clip Audio clip • Non-religious text in English • Elements of homophony and polyphony • Use of imitation • Use of word painting • Through-composed music • Usually A cappella

13. Ballett Audio clip Audio clip A type of madrigal in strophic form which was originally danced to. It features a fa-la-la refrain at the end of each verse. • Strophic Form • English non-religious text • A capella

14. Ayre (Air) Audio clip An ayre (air or song) is a madrigal which can be performed by a solo voice with lute accompaniment; by solo voice accompanied by other instruments; or with all parts sung by voices with accompaniment. Audio clip • Normally strophic form • English non-religious text • Usually accompanied

15. Anthem Audio clip Audio clip The anthem is the Protestant equivalent of the Motet. It is a short sacred choral piece sung in English. Either a cappella or accompanied and featuring solo parts.

16. Instrumental Music

17. Pavane Audio clip • A Renaissance court dance • normally followed by a Galliard. • The pavan is slow and stately • with two beats in the bar. • Normally performed on either • Harpsichord, lute or viols.

18. Galliard Audio clip • A Renaissance court dance • which follows the Pavan. • A galliard is quick and lively • with three beats in a bar. • Normally performed on either • Harpsichord, lute or viols.

19. Instruments

20. Consort Audio clip A small group of instruments of the same family playing together, e.g. a consort of viols.

21. Viols The early version of modern day string family Audio clip Audio clip

22. Lute A renaissance instrument similar to the guitar Audio clip

23. Recorders Audio clip

24. Other Features

25. Hemiola A rhythmic device giving the impression of a piece of music changing from duple (2) to triple (3) time, or vice versa Audio clip

26. Antiphonal Audio clip Dialogue between voices or instruments – one group of voices or instruments answers the other.