Renaissance Music

Question 1

What does polyphonic mean?

Answer 1

2+ melodies weaving independently amongst each other
*Think of spaghetti!

Question 2

What does A capella mean?

Answer 2

Unaccompanied singing

Question 3

What does it mean if a musical piece has a SYLLABIC word setting?

How about a MELISMATIC word setting?

Answer 3

Syllabic = 1 note per syllable.
Melismatic = Multiple notes per syllable.

Question 4

What does it mean when we say that Renaissance music is MODAL?

Answer 4

It means that Renaissance music is based on a MODE.

Question 5

What are MODES?

Answer 5

A type of early scale used before the major/minor keys were developed.

Question 6

“Modes” are not similar to the major and minor tonalities that we know today. True or False?

Answer 6

False, modes eventually developed into the tonality that we know today: major and minor.

Question 7

All music from the Renaissance period was written using modes. True or False?

Answer 7

True.

Question 8

Music from the Renaissance Period can be split into 2 categories. What are these categories?

Answer 8

Vocal & Instrumental

Question 9

The Renaissance period was when music was first played for its own sake (not just as an accompaniment to vocal music). True or False?

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Most of the instrumental music written during the Renaissance Period were bland and difficult to dance to. True or False?

Answer 10

False - Most of the instrumental music written during the Renaissance Period were SETS OF VARIATIONS or DANCES.

Question 11

What were the first string instruments of the Renaissance era?

Answer 11

Viols were the first string instruments.

Question 12

Tell me all about VIOLS!
[5 marks]

Answer 12

Were the first string instruments [1].
Came in different sizes [1].
Developed into the more common string instruments that we know today [1].
Smaller ones weren’t played under the chin (like the violin & viola) [1], but instead were held on the knee [1].

Question 13

What was the other predominant string instrument of this period?

Answer 13

The LUTE.

Question 14

Which modern day instrument most resembles the lute?

Answer 14

The guitar

Question 15

What was the main woodwind instrument of the period?

Answer 15

The RECORDER.

Question 16

The only woodwind instruments of the period was the flute. True or False?

Answer 16

False - the main woodwind instrument of the period was the RECORDER.
Other instruments = the Shawm and the Crumhorn were also used.

Question 17

What was the early version of the modern-day oboe?

Answer 17

Shawms

Question 18

What was the early version of the modern-day bassoons?

Answer 18

Crumhorns

Question 19

The main brass instruments of the era were predecessors to the trumpet and the trombone. What were these early instruments called?

Answer 19

Early version of the trumpet = CORNET.
Early version of the trombone = SACKBUT.

Question 20

The percussion instruments of this period were very basic. True or False?
What did the percussion instruments include?

Answer 20

True.
They included DRUMS MADE WITH ANIMAL SKIN, and TAMBOURINES.

Question 21

The vocal music of the Renaissance Period can be split into 2 categories. What are these categories, and which one do we focus on for Higher Music?

Answer 21

Secular (non-religious), and Sacred (religious).

We focus on the SACRED vocal music for Higher Music.

Question 22

PLAINCHANTS are traditionally sung by pop-stars in a cappella. True or False?

Answer 22

False, plainchants are sung by monks or priests (traditionally performed by male voices only) in a cappella.

Question 23

PLAINCHANTS are modal and there is a single line of melody (homophonic) with voices usually singing in ——.

Answer 23

UNISON.

Question 24

Plainchants can be an octave apart. True or False?

Answer 24

True

Question 25

Plainchants are always sung in Gaelic. True or False?

Answer 25

False - PLAINCHANTS are always sung in Latin.

Question 26

PLAINCHANTS sets the words of the Roman Catholic mass/prayers to music. True or False?

Answer 26

True

Question 27

Plainchants have a strict time signature. True or False?

Answer 27

False - There’s no regular time signature. Instead the rhythm and tempo are dictated by the words being sung.

Question 28

Tell me everything you know about PLAINCHANTS!
[9 marks]

Answer 28

They’re traditionally sung in a cappella [1] by male voices - monks or priests [1] in Latin [1].
They’re modal [1].
They’re a homophonic melody [1] sung in unison [1], set to the words of the Roman Catholic mass/prayers [1].
The voices can be an octave apart [1] and the rhythm and tempo are dictated by the words being sung [1].

Question 29

What are MASSES?

Answer 29

A large-scale religious work (usually based on the Roman Catholic High Mass), using words and phrases in Latin.

Question 30

There is a set texture in a MASS; It can only be polyphonic.True or False?

Answer 30

False - there’s no set texture in a Mass.
It can be homophonic or polyphonic.

Question 31

Masses have a set Latin text. Name the 7 sections that can make up a mass.

Answer 31

Kyrie,
Gloria,
Credo,
Sanctus,
Hosanna,
Benedictus,
Agnus Dei.

Question 32

What does the KYRIE section of a mass mean?

Answer 32

“Lord have mercy upon us”

Question 33

What does the GLORIA section of a mass mean?

Answer 33

“Glory be to thee”

Question 34

What does the CREDO section of a mass mean?

Answer 34

“I believe in God the Father”

Question 35

What does the SANCTUS section of a mass mean?

Answer 35

It’s sometimes divided into Sanctus - Holy, Holy, Holy, then “Hosanna!”, and then Benedictus - Blessed is he.

Question 36

What does the AGNUS DEI section of a mass mean?

Answer 36

“O Lamb of God”

Question 37

Tell me everything you know about a MASS.
[7 marks]

Answer 37

Large-scale sacred work [1].
Sung in Catholic church for worship [1] using specific text in Latin [1] - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Hosanna, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei [1].
Accompanied by an organ, harpsichord or orchestra [1]
Can be sung in Plainchant style [1].
There’s no set texture [1].