The Renaissance: Chapter 7

Quizzes and Notes:

 

 

Renaissance Music Overview

Step 1

• Summarize the appeal of early music in this Folger Consort video. Early music has a certain aspect of mystery, and doesn't require any special knowledge to appreciate it. The diverse repertoire comes from a very different time, which makes it a new feel to this old music. It becomes incredibly cherished when played for just a small setting of people, or even other performers. 

• Describe the timbres of the instruments heard in this Sackbut example. Everything is very bright and the several brass instruments gives it a brilliant inflection and several nice overtones. 

 

Step 2

• Listen to the 4 examples below to answer the following questions

A.  Dance Music

B.  Shakespeare

C.  King Henry VII

 

D.  Monteverdi Mass

 

1. Share your overall impression of Renaissance Music. Renaissance music is a beautiful, rich sound. It has simplistic qualities to it, which doesn't overwhelm a listener. 

2. How does Renaissance music sound similar to Medieval Music? Renaissance music has Medieval qualities, such as tempo and rhythm, vocal parts, and instrumental accompaniments. 

3. How does Renaissance music sound different from Medieval Music? Renaissance has many characteristics that make the homophony and polyphony a lot more sophisticated and difficult. The accompaniment of instruments is heavier on highlighting harmonies in certain parts of songs. 

 

 

Step 3

• How does Josquin Des Prez convey a happy cricket in his composition El Grillo? The tempo allows us to come to the conclusion that it is lively and very bouncy. The song is in a major key, which could also represent "happiness." The echoes of the voice convey they cricket itself, I think, and the slower parts could represent other movements of a happy cricket. 

 

Step 4

• Listen to Sicut Cervus by Giovanni Palestrina to answer the following questions

1. Is this example Sacred or a Secular? This is most holy and sacred. 

2. What is the language of the text? It's in latin. 

3. Is the texture monophonic, homophonic or polyphonic? This is polyphonic. 

 

Step 5

• Describe the use of dynamics and antiphony demonstrated in Sonata pian e forte by Giovanni Gabrielli. The group of people were extraordinary at following dynamics- from pianisomo to fortismo.

• What are 3 musical clues/characteristics that identify it as being from the Renaissance Period? The usage of differing medieval modes and adopting monophonic melodies and turning them into multi-textural parts is a main theme with the Renaissance. Blended harmonies is an important aspect in the progression of a piece. 

 

Step 6

• Use this Recorder Ensemble example by Merula to describe tempo and rhythm. The recorder ensemble uses a mix of legato and staccato to communicate a very up-tempo song. There is a change of keys 48 seconds in, where a significant change in rhythm is noted. The song took a bridge-song like quality and slowed down in the end, before increasing to a syncopated rhythm dramatically. 

 

Step 7

• Use this Thomas Morely Madrigal Now is the Month of Maying to answer the following questions. This reminds me of "My Bonnie Lass She 'Smelleth'." Maybe even a quick version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons... 

1. Identify where individual motives and themes are first introduced and subsequently reappear. The singing copied the theme that the solo flute in the beginning established. This was found throughout the piece, with a repetitive "falalalala

2. Identify changes in dynamics and discuss the effect these changes create. Every time there's a change of verse, the dynamics change, with a swell on certain words, and a crescendo with a certain phrase. At the end of the verses, there was a notable difference from that of the chorus- this allows for something to look forward to. 

3. Describe changes in texture in Month of Maying as monophonic, homophonic and/or polyphonic. The verses sound like they're homophonic, with little space for differing textures. When the repetitive "falalala's" come along, the piece reverts to a more polyphonic texture. The accompanying wind instrument always maintains a polyphonic aspect, while the vocalists maintain a similar texture. 

 

Step 8

• Provide a brief narrative about Greensleeves 

 

 Background & History:

Greensleeves is a traditional English folktune. There were beliefs that Henry VIII composed Greensleeves for his lover and future wife, Anne Boleyn. She may or may not have been a prostitute. Apparently she rejected him, and he composed the song with "cast me off discourteously" in mind. A possible meaning for this part of the song is the rejection that Henry VIII faced when he approached Anne Boleyn. There is a theory that Anne may have been a sexually active woman- perhaps a prostitute. The "green" in Greensleeves could imply that green grass stains on a lady's dress were a cause of relations outside, in the lovely green grass. The fact that she rejects Henry could indicate that these assumptions were completely false. 

 

Meaning & Verses:

Alas, my love, you do me wrong

To cast me off discourteously

For I have loved you well and long

Delighting in your company

Greensleeves was all my joy

Greensleeves was my delight

Greensleeves was my heart of gold

And who but my lady greensleeves

Your vows you've broken, like my heart

Oh, why did you so enrapture me?

Now I remain in a world apart

But my heart remains in captivity

 

A possible meaning for this part of the song is the rejection that Henry VIII faced when he approached Anne Boleyn. There is a theory that Anne may have been a sexually active woman- perhaps a prostitute. The "green" in Greensleeves could imply that green grass stains on a lady's dress were a cause of relations outside, in the lovely green grass. The fact that she rejects Henry could indicate that these assumptions were completely false. A sacred song that uses a melody similar to that of greensleeves, a love song, is used in the song What Child is This, which is a song about the birth of Jesus. 

 

Variations of Sacred & Secular:

A sacred song that uses a melody similar to that of greensleeves, a love song, is used in the song What Child is This, which is a song about the birth of Jesus. 

 

 

Step 9

• Check out Julie Freebern's Recorder Ensemble Website for Medieval, Renaissance

and Baroque music recordings:  The Equinox Consort. OOOOH... AHHHH... 

• For a real laugh, check out this video of the Crumhorn Party hosted at the Freebern's house :) 

OH NO... 

 

 

Period Research

Step 1

• Gather resources of your own choosing to answer the following questions

1.  Provide approximate dates for the Renaissance punctuated with notable world/historical events

Lookie!

 

2.  Provide examples of how technological advances effected the development of music during the Renaissance

 

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Renaissance music was heavily impacted by the publishing of a collection of polyphonic music, the Hamonice Musices Odhecaton A, published by a Venetian printer Ottaviano Petrucci. Petrucci popularized music printing in France, Germany, England, and many other countries. As books of music became more common, it became possible for greater numbers of people to own them and to learn music. 

At around the same time, the development of musical instruments was roaring. This resulted in the development of the viola da gamba, the lute, the recorder, the harpsichord, and the organ, among several other instruments. 

The creation of different instruments lead to new genres of music: compositions such as the canzona, ricercare, fantasia, variation, and contrapuntal dance-inspired pieces. 

 

 

 

 INSTRUMENTS!

  

 

 

Step 3

Ready to laugh?  Check out me (and 3 other brave souls)attempting to learn the Dulcian.

There is a reason it became extinct and morphed into a bassoon!

 Oh no... 

 

 

Songs from the Labyrinth

Step 1

• Listen to the following interview with Sting on NPR regarding Songs from the Labyrinth 

• Listen to the following Dowland Anniversary Edition Trailer

1. Provide a description regarding this project. Sting always had something when he was learning about John Dowland's music because he influenced him so heavily. The project is a mix of current and earlier music... modern performers are diving into ancient music from ages ago. It's definitely been outside of Sting's comfort zone, which, naturally, helped him develop as a musician. 

2. Provide a bit of trivia regarding John Dowland. John Dowland was an English composer and singer. He was amazing at the lute (which even modern professionals can't keep up with), and is considered one of the first singer/songwriter. He received a bachelor's music degree from the University of Oxford in 1588. He had very sleepy, hypnotic songs, something that was a highlight of his. 

 

 

Step 2

• Watch the following "Message in a Bottle" videos using musical elements to guide your narrative

A.  The Police

B.  Sting & Eden

 

1.  How did Sting/Eden manipulate the original Rock version to emulate the Renaissance Period? 

(Musical Elements; Instruments, Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.). Sting took The Police and replaced the percussive beat with a much slower melody on the theorbo. The song took a more acoustic, classical approach, which made dynamics more subtle. Sing & Eden made the piece very calming and somewhat sad. 

 

Step 3

• Use the following text/music for your responses

1. If you were asked to set these lyrics to music, what choices would you make about tempo, dynamics, tonality, texture, form, mood, timbre, etc.? Hmm... I would make this a very soft song. The key would change halfway through, at "weep" to change into a harmonic minor so that the leading tone with the beginning of each verse always stays strong. I could have one harmony, and build it up as the song goes on, so that in the end there are four parts. I would let the song be slow and and a bit sad. 

 

 

"In Darkness Let Me Dwell"

In darkness let me dwell; the ground shall sorrow be, 
The roof despair, to bar all cheerful light from me; 
The walls of marble black, that moist'ned still shall weep; 
My music, hellish jarring sounds, to banish friendly sleep. 
Thus, wedded to my woes, and bedded in my tomb, 
O let me dying live, till death doth come, till death doth come. 
In darkness let me dwell

 

 

2.  What choices did John Dowland make in his setting of In Darkness let me Dwell? There's a small theorbo that accompanies the vocalist with interesting legato notes. The song varies between majors and minors, and there's a haunting echo in his voice. The tempo is very slow, and the instrumentalist plays a lot of notes in between to fill up the space. 

3.  How did his musical choices differ from yours? They're pretty similar, actually. The main difference would be the instruments; I'd use a piano to accompany the voice part. They go at around the same pace, but his doesn't have as many crunches as I would like. 

4.  Were there any similarities and if so, what were they? Maintaining a sombre tone quality and a slow tempo are the biggest differences. 

 

Step 4

• Pair and Share the outcome of your step 3 creation

1.  Who was your partner? Anna F. 

2.  Describe their musical choices compared to yours.  Similarities?  Differences?

Anna set her musical expression in a soft minor key, with a more uplifting tempo and note dynamics. She has one voice singing with soft intent, with multiple stringed instruments creating a surrounding polyphony. On the other hand, I would prefer to be accompanied by a piano, playing high notes in a very slow fashion... the biggest difference would be our note intention. I'm going for a more sad feel, and she has a bouncy folk-like feel. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

HONORS TRACK

Can Sting Come out and play?

no 

Step 1

Use these resources to answer the following questions:  Link 1 & Link 2

1.  Title, Length, CopyRight Date, Creators & Actors. "Songs from the Labyrinth." It's 56 minutes long, and was copyrighted in 2007. The performer was Edin Karamazov, directed by Jim Gable and Ann Kim. The actors were James Arthur, Kate Ashby, and Helen Ashby. 

2.  Brief Summary of the Viewing Material to include 3-5 quotes/passages (include time stamp). 

The journey of ancient renaissance music from a rockstar's perspective:

- "This is the lute that Dominque bought me, with the labyrinth inside, which is what we named the record after- songs from the Labyrinth." (10:50)

- "[Religion], he felt, had marked him down. He played for the King of Denmark, he played for the Princes in Germany, he played in Venice, in Rome, and he was an exile. Probably the first British pop star." (20:00)

- "If you converted to Islam, you would probably find a few more obstacles in your way." (35:37)

- "The only daunting thing is that I am putting myself in a very vulnerable position... it's not my world. (37:22)

- "What we do as musicians is create a frame around silence." (42:45). 

 

3.  Please answer the following

    •    Describe your thoughts, feelings and/or emotional response to the DVD. I found it rather inspiring that someone really puts themselves into the music that they performed. That passion and dedication really affected so many people- and so many people rediscovered ancient music. Learning to play a new instrument, the lute, nonetheless, is such an amazing feat, and I respect his ability to go outside of his comfort zone and play a genre of music that's totally unfamiliar to the general population. 

    •    What was the most important insight you gained? It's okay to experiment and go outside of your comfort zones... sometimes looking at the past inspires music that's modern and ancient at the same time. 

    •    What surprised you the most? I was most impressed with his lute playing. Being able to play so professionally, with such dedication is quite something. 

    •    What did you already know? I knew that this took a heck of a lot of work and that it takes multiple people-a whole village-to perfect every aspect of a musical product. 

    •    In what ways might you be able to apply this material to your musical interests? I'm really interested in picking up and trying out instruments, even though I may not master them... The theorbo looks rather appealing... I may want to accompany songs with it, whether they're age-old or modern.