Expository

Expository

Abstract

Music in the Renaissance changed dramatically between the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century. At the beginning music was composed and sung mainly for the Church, which changed in the style it was sung. The English initially dominated the Fifteenth Century, but then Northern European Composers came along. By the end of the Sixteenth Century patronage split, led to a number of momentous changes in production or music and instruments.

Music and the Renaissance

Music was an essential part or civic, religious, and courtly life in the Renaissance. Music in the Renaissance actually began in Northern France, Holland, and Belgium around 1450, and from there many styles developed and later spread to various parts of Europe. Because of the rich, as well as politics, economics, and religious events, Music changed dramatically between the Fifteenth and Sixteenth century (Arkenberg).

During the Renaissance, Music was mainly composed for the church; this included the Gregorian chant, which is a body of music to which the medieval Roman Catholic Liturgy was sung. Mainly sung in a Latin, monophonic tone and without instruments, the chants came from the Bible, Particularly the Book of Psalms (Charlton 31-32). Then it all changed. Léonin (1135-1201) and Pérotin (1150-1225) both changed the way music in the church was sung, they extended the notes and added melodies, which at first the Pope at the time did not want to change the way the chants were sung, but later when he heard the music, it was accepted as their own (Charlton 37). Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) also led to the change in music in the church; she was the first female composer who composed her own songs for the Nuns in her Convent (Charlton 33).

The Fifteenth Century was initially dominated by the English and then Northern European Composers. The attraction of composers and musicians from all over Europe was influenced by the Burgundian Court, Guillaume Du Fay (1397-1474) being the most...