Reformation Music in Italy and France

Question 1

What was the Reformation in France?

Answer 1

• Psalm reform replicated in France – tunes infiltrated all levels of society
• French civil wars of religion – v brutal. E.g. Bartholomew day Massacre as peace treaty between protestants and catholics ended with botched assassination attempt (1572)
• King Henry IV of France 1594 converts to Catholicism, and then tolerated protestant worship
• French composers tried to work within these turbulent changes.

Question 2

Who was Palestrina?

Answer 2

• At centre of orthodox religious life in Rome. Foreign talent was attracted to Rome – Palestrina got much of his influence from previous composers (e.g. Josquin – two masses inspired by Josquin’s music)
• Main patron was church in Rome – but he also relied on revenue from publications so was able to look for patrons outside of Rome/the church. Associated with Court of Mantua – composed specific music for it.
• Advantageous second marriage in 1570s which makes him materially comfortable.
• Lived through period of immense change in religious life – two different directions: protestant reform and catholic (counter) reformation

Question 3

What are the 3 types of mass Palestrina composed? Give examples.

Answer 3

3ish Types of Mass:

• Based on monophonic song (two l’homme arme) – cantus firmus
• Freely composed mass e.g. missa brevis – no borrowed musical material
• Parody mass – adoption of entire polyphonic structure from either own or someone else’s music. E.g. Missa Tu Es Petrus (sounds like vidi speciosam!!) – uses polyphonic music from own motet (compare missa tu es petrus and motet tu es petrus)