Renaissance Terms

Question 1

A Cappella

Answer 1

means “in the church style”. Is vocal (choral) music performed without instrumental accompaniment, hence a manner of writing that is focused above all on the beauty and capacity of the human voice. 16th century Renaissance was golden age of this style
Eg. Pope Marcellus Mass

Question 2

Chromaticism

Answer 2

Style of composing in which melody and harmony are built from many if not all 12 semitones of the octave.
Eg. Moro lasso, al mio duolo

Question 3

Consorts

Answer 3

Renaissance instrumental ensembles were known as consorts. The “whole consort” consisted of different-size instruments from the same family. A “broken consort” comprised of instruments of various families
Eg. Ronde 1 and Ronde 2 from Danserye

Question 4

Continuous Imitation

Answer 4

Renaissance polyphonic style in which the motives move from line to line within the texture, the overlapping voices imitating one another so that the same theme or motive is heard now in the soprano or alto, now in the tenor or bass, resulting in a seamless texture
Eg. Ave Maria… Virgo Serena

Question 5

Council of Trent

Answer 5

A council of the Roman Catholic Church that convened in Trent, Italy from 1545-1565 and dealt with Counter-Reformation issues, including the reform of liturgical (church) music
Eg. Pop Marcellus Mass

Question 6

Danserye

Answer 6

On of the most popular dance collections of the 16th century published in Antwerp in 1551 by Tielman Susato. Many of the dances in the collection were drawn from vocal models such as the pavane Mille Regretz, which was based on a chanson of the same name by Josquin Desprez
Eg. Ronde 1 and Ronde 2 from Danserye

Question 7

Franco-Flemish School

Answer 7

Musical style that was preeminent in European music from around 1450-1600. The composers (Ockeghem, Josquin Despres, Lassus) came from present-day Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. Contributions were the establishment of new polyphonic style characterized by equality of all 4 parts, and use of continuous imitation to achieve a seamless structure.
Eg. Ave Maria

Question 8

Mass Ordinary

Answer 8

Sections of Roman Catholic Mass that remain the same from day to day throughout the church year, different from the Proper, which changes according to the liturgical occasion. 5 main sections of Mass Ordinary are: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei
Eg. Pope Marcellus Mass

Question 9

Madrigal

Answer 9

Renaissance secular work originating in Italy for voices, with or without instruments, set to a short, usually love, poem. Emotional words were often set with word painting techniques. Popular in England in late 16th century.
Eg. Moro lasso, al mio duolo OR Fair Phyllis

Question 10

Musica Ficta

Answer 10

Feigned music, also known as musica falsa. Used to describe accidentals that need to be added in performance or editing to the texts as written in Medieval and Renaissance music
Eg. Ronde 1 and Ronde 2 OR Pavane “Mille Regretz”

Question 11

Pavane

Answer 11

Stately Renaissance court dance in duple meter, often served as the 1st number of a set
Eg. Pavane “Mille Regretz”

Question 12

Ronde

Answer 12

Lively round dance popular in the Renaissance. Associated with the outdoor and performed in a circle or a line
Eg. Ronde 1 and Ronde 2

Question 13

Viola da Gamba

Answer 13

means “leg viol”. Renaissance bowed-string instrument of the viol family that had 6 or more strings, was fretted like a guitar, played held between the legs like modern cello
Eg. Ronde 1 and Ronde 2

Question 14

Word Painting

Answer 14

Musical pictorialization of words from the text as an expressive device; a prominent feature of the Renaissance Madrigal.
Eg. Fair Phyllis OR Moro lasso, al mio duolo