Renaissance music refers to European music of the 15th and 16th centuries. During this period, music was an essential part of civic, religious, and courtly life, and the rich interchange of ideas in Europe led to major changes in styles of composing, methods of disseminating music, new musical genres, and the development of musical instruments. Key features of Renaissance music include:
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Polyphony: This is a style of music that features several simultaneous melodies. Polyphonic masses and motets in Latin were the most important music of the early Renaissance, composed for use by the church.
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New genres: A wide range of musical styles and genres flourished during the Renaissance, including masses, motets, madrigals, chansons, accompanied songs, instrumental dances, and many others.
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Humanistic thought: Sixteenth-century humanists studied ancient Greek treatises on music, which discussed the close relationship between music and poetry and how music could stir the listener’s emotions. Inspired by the classical world, Renaissance composers fit words and music together in an increasingly dramatic fashion.
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Printing press: The invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century had a significant impact on the dissemination of music. Music could be written down, printed, and then shared with others, making it much easier to distribute work as a musician.
Today, ensembles specializing in music of the Renaissance era give concert tours and make recordings, using modern reproductions of historical instruments and using singing and performing styles which musicologists believe were used during the era.
