Chapter 4: The Emergence of Renaissance Style Flashcards
Famous Composers of the Renaissance period
Gilles Binchois Guillaume Du Fay (France) Johannes Ockeghem John Dunstable (England) Johannes Regis Antoine Busnois
Importent developments and characteristics of the Renaissance
Developments: Began to build a tonal center, strongly featured thirds and triads (3rds and 6ths now consonant)
Characteristics: Homogeneous in texture, imitation, paratactic form, polyglot text was replaced with single line, 5th was considered the strongest chord, no downbeat or bar lines yet
Contenance Angloise (“English Manner”)
A compositional technique of the 15th century that centers around the emulation of English musical styles.
Characteristics: triadic harmonies (3rds, 5ths, and 6ths) ending with the cadence interval of the 5th
Fauxbourdon
Three-part harmonization of chant, a style of improvised singing which adds a part to a piece which is a 4th below the melody, creating a harmonic texture rich in 3rds and 6ths
Faburden
Parallel first inversion chords. Reinforced the idea of 3rds and 6ths as consonant intervals.
Cantus Firmus
A pre-existing melody forming the basis of a polyphonic composition
Isomelic
Repeated uses of the same pitch contour, but with variations in rhythm
Panconsonance
Using triads and limiting dissonance
Josquin des Prez
One of the first composers who’s reputation endured after his death
Born in Northern France or Belgium
Served with chapels and cardinals
Wrote virtually every vocal genre of his time: 18 masses and 6 individual mass movements. 100 motets, 70 chansons.
“Ave Maria”
A motet by Josquin des Prez
- Polyphonic
- Des Prez got rid of the polyglot
Point of imitation
The thematic unit of imitated material
Pervading imitation
Musical ideas are imitated throughout an entire/section of a piece
Note against note counterpoint: ratio of 1 to 1 note (all notes move together)
Cadences
5th chord was considered to be the strongest
Josquin would end cadences on the 5th
Paratactic: A structure, characterized by its segmentation (divided by cadences), with no unifying rhythmic or melodic patterns.
Rhythm
No bar lines, no sense of downbeat.
Tactus: Underlying pulse
Guillaume Du Fay
A French renaissance composer.
- developed Fauxbourdon
- wrote 6 complete settings of the Ordinary, and 24 mass movements
- wrote many types of motets
