|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
THE RENAISSANCE ERA
The Renaissance period in music spanned from approximately 1450AD until the beginning of the Baroque era in 1600AD. The previous mediaeval period in music history marked the birth of a basic form of today’s notation, which developed from a system known as Neumes. The vast majority of composers dating from the mediaeval era were associated with and supported by the church, and thus music, like the other arts of the time, was an almost entirely religious concept. Also, as notating music was then a difficult and very time consuming process, it was only cathedrals and monasteries that had the means to carry out such work regularly, so almost all music preserved from this time was written for the church. ... The period is characterised by an increase of interest in classical learning and values. ... Where previously music only played an important role in the church, it began to spread to other aspects of life – the courts of the rich supported music to a degree that was never previously seen before, and the rapid spread of music printing throughout the 15th and 16th centuries increased access to music and books about music. Essentially, in the Renaissance era western music had become less prescriptive and marked the point in which music become an expressive art. ... Starting in the 15th century the vertical bar lines were used to divide the staff into sections, but did not yet represent sections of equal length, as the music of the time was far less rhythmic. The now universal system of a five line staff was first adopted in France and became widely used by the 16th century. ... Composers such as Giovanni Palestrina (Italy) and Orlande de Lassus (Netherlands) are renowned for their ability to compose pieces of music with distinctively smooth and imitative textures, where multiple layers of voice are given equal importance and combined produce the final melody. ...
The two most common forms of sacred music (music made specifically for the church) were masses and motets. ... The music of this period developed from plainsong or cantus planus, the ancient chant of the Christian Church, and was often based on single Latin texts. ...
During the Renaissance secular music was becoming increasingly common. ... The madrigal was a form of vocal chamber music that originated in northern Italy during the 14th century. ... Secular music continued to develop during the second half of the Renaissance rivalling sacred music in popularity.
Even though the majority of music that came out of the Renaissance was vocal, instrumental music still played an important role during the period. ... The repertoire of instrumental music began to grow considerably, which subsequently led to a development of musical form which was distinctive from the vocal music of the time. ...
In addition to the rise in popularity of instrumental music, the instrumentation used also made significant developments. ... Lute music was usually written in a type of musical notation called tablature. ... The recorder was the most important wind instrument of the period, and was used in many different types of ensemble music. ... He has produced what has been described as the most perfect polyphonic music ever composed, and is renowned for his ability to create beautiful harmonious textures using voice. ...
Other notable composers of the Renaissance include William Byrd, an English composer who is famous for his extraordinary masses, motets, vocal and solo songs, and for his instrumental chamber music. ... The Renaissance era in music in many ways shaped the music of today, perfecting polyphony and introducing new important ideas such as harmony, that would be refined be composers of later eras.
THE ROMANTIC ERA
While the previous Classical period in music stressed the importance of control, order and structural perfection, the Romantic era, which occupied the 19th century, emphasised boundlessness, freedom of expression and passion. This corresponds with the general Romantic movement in all of the arts- the creations of the romantic artist no longer depended on structural rules and conventions. ... Poets and writers such as Wordsworth and the French Lamartine are said to have been a great influence on many musicians in the Romantic era. The move from the Classical period to the Romantic was not an abrupt, total transformation but more of a change in emphasis. Music acquired poetic and philosophical meaning that had not previously been seen.
To understand fully the music and art of the era in context, it is necessary to look at the historical themes of the time. During the 19th century many revolutions were taking place - The American Revolution, which ended the rule of the monarch and the got rid of the feudal system, was soon followed by the French Revolution, which also gave bold new freedoms.
Approximate Word count = 3861
Approximate Pages = 15.4
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|