Renaissance Music Flashcards
What does polyphonic mean?
2+ melodies weaving independently amongst each other
*Think of spaghetti!
What does A capella mean?
Unaccompanied singing
What does it mean if a musical piece has a SYLLABIC word setting?
How about a MELISMATIC word setting?
Syllabic = 1 note per syllable.
Melismatic = Multiple notes per syllable.
What does it mean when we say that Renaissance music is MODAL?
It means that Renaissance music is based on a MODE.
What are MODES?
A type of early scale used before the major/minor keys were developed.
“Modes” are not similar to the major and minor tonalities that we know today. True or False?
False, modes eventually developed into the tonality that we know today: major and minor.
All music from the Renaissance period was written using modes. True or False?
True.
Music from the Renaissance Period can be split into 2 categories. What are these categories?
Vocal & Instrumental
The Renaissance period was when music was first played for its own sake (not just as an accompaniment to vocal music). True or False?
True
Most of the instrumental music written during the Renaissance Period were bland and difficult to dance to. True or False?
False - Most of the instrumental music written during the Renaissance Period were SETS OF VARIATIONS or DANCES.
What were the first string instruments of the Renaissance era?
Viols were the first string instruments.
Tell me all about VIOLS!
[5 marks]
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].
What was the other predominant string instrument of this period?
The LUTE.
Which modern day instrument most resembles the lute?
The guitar
What was the main woodwind instrument of the period?
The RECORDER.
The only woodwind instruments of the period was the flute. True or False?
False - the main woodwind instrument of the period was the RECORDER.
Other instruments = the Shawm and the Crumhorn were also used.
What was the early version of the modern-day oboe?
Shawms
What was the early version of the modern-day bassoons?
Crumhorns
The main brass instruments of the era were predecessors to the trumpet and the trombone. What were these early instruments called?
Early version of the trumpet = CORNET.
Early version of the trombone = SACKBUT.
The percussion instruments of this period were very basic. True or False?
What did the percussion instruments include?
True.
They included DRUMS MADE WITH ANIMAL SKIN, and TAMBOURINES.
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?
Secular (non-religious), and Sacred (religious).
We focus on the SACRED vocal music for Higher Music.
PLAINCHANTS are traditionally sung by pop-stars in a cappella. True or False?
False, plainchants are sung by monks or priests (traditionally performed by male voices only) in a cappella.
PLAINCHANTS are modal and there is a single line of melody (homophonic) with voices usually singing in ——.
UNISON.
Plainchants can be an octave apart. True or False?
True
Plainchants are always sung in Gaelic. True or False?
False - PLAINCHANTS are always sung in Latin.
PLAINCHANTS sets the words of the Roman Catholic mass/prayers to music. True or False?
True
Plainchants have a strict time signature. True or False?
False - There’s no regular time signature. Instead the rhythm and tempo are dictated by the words being sung.
Tell me everything you know about PLAINCHANTS!
[9 marks]
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].
What are MASSES?
A large-scale religious work (usually based on the Roman Catholic High Mass), using words and phrases in Latin.
There is a set texture in a MASS; It can only be polyphonic.True or False?
False - there’s no set texture in a Mass.
It can be homophonic or polyphonic.
Masses have a set Latin text. Name the 7 sections that can make up a mass.
Kyrie,
Gloria,
Credo,
Sanctus,
Hosanna,
Benedictus,
Agnus Dei.
What does the KYRIE section of a mass mean?
“Lord have mercy upon us”
What does the GLORIA section of a mass mean?
“Glory be to thee”
What does the CREDO section of a mass mean?
“I believe in God the Father”
What does the SANCTUS section of a mass mean?
It’s sometimes divided into Sanctus - Holy, Holy, Holy, then “Hosanna!”, and then Benedictus - Blessed is he.
What does the AGNUS DEI section of a mass mean?
“O Lamb of God”
Tell me everything you know about a MASS.
[7 marks]
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].
