16th Century Sacred Vocal Music

Question 1

Important 16th century sacred vocal composers

Answer 1

Palestrina
Lasso
Byrd

Question 2

Late Renaissance sacred vocal characteristics

16th century

Answer 2

1. parody and contrafacta techniques more important than imitation due to text declamation
2. extension of tonal coherence, cyclic organization, harmonic polyphony
3. music printing develops
4. 4,5,and 6 voice texture

Question 3

contrafacta

Answer 3

compositions in which new words are set to existing composition - often some re-working to make the new words fit

Question 4

16th century mass

Answer 4

parody type dominates
more Requiems (Mass for the Dead)
Missa brevis developed

Question 5

16th century motet

Answer 5

mainly psalm settings - translated to vernacular
lamentations (set homorhythmically)
magnificats (set in alternatum)

Question 6

Missa brevis

Answer 6

shorter, simpler mass settings- typically more chordal and less ornate than traditional mass setting

Question 7

alternatum

Answer 7

even numbered verses are set to polyphony while other verses are set in plainsong

Question 8

bicinium

Answer 8

a two part contrapuntal composition (instrumental or vocal) without accompaniment

Question 9

Eton Choirbook

Answer 9

Primary source of English music from c 1500. Includes antiphons and Magnificats but not mass settings

Question 10

Cantiones sacrae

Answer 10

1575 - a collection of motets - a result of a collaboration between Byrd and Tallis