Download Renaissance 1500

A Brief History
of
Music
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Renaissance 1500 - 1650
Definition:
Revival or rebirth
Composers:
Byrd
Morley
Palestrina
Dowland.
Description of the music:
Mainly polyphonic - more then 1 tune at a time.
Typical compositions:
Mass - sung in Latin, religious music, polyphonic,
unaccompanied (no instruments). Famous composer of this
type of music - Palestrina
Madrigal - sung in English/French/Italian - (not Latin).
Sometimes had accompanying instruments such as
recorders, lutes or early violins. (viols) Songs were mainly
about happy events or love songs. Famous composers of
this type of music: Byrd or Morley.
Lute Music - Famous composer of this type of music Dowland
Instruments:
Mainly singing but some instruments were found such as
recorders, viols, and lutes and early harpsichords. Small
orchestras appeared in the 1600's consisting of a mixed
collection of bowed and plucked stringed instruments as
well as various types of wind instruments. keyboard
instruments included clavichords and early harpsichords.
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Baroque Period 1650 - 1750
Definition:
Decorated or ornamented.
Composers:
J.S. Bach
Handel
Vivaldi
Purcell.
Description of the music:
Mainly homophonic - 1 major tune with accompaniment.
Typical compositions:
Opera - Drama set to music, acted and sung by soloists and
chorus. Example: Dido ond Aeneas by Purcell.
Oratorio - Large-scale religious work for choir, soloist and
orchestra. Example: The Messioh by Handel.
Operas and oratorios often incorporated two styles of
singing. These were called aria – a tuneful song and
recitative – a style of half spoken singing.
Concerto Grosso - A piece of music for orchestra. The
orchestra divided into two sections one small group of
soloists (Concertino) and one larger, main group of
instrumentalists (Ripieno). Example: The Four Seasons by
Vivaldi.
Fugue - A piece of music for keyboard, voices or
sometimes orchestra. It was essentially a mathematical way
of composing using one main tune but inverting and
changing it. It was very imitative, sometimes known as
contrapuntal music.
Suite - A collection of a few pieces of music which were
originally dances in the Renaissance period the most
common suites consisted of four dances:
Allemande – slow
Courante – fast
Sarabande - slow
Gigue – fast (with an anacrusis)
Anacrusis - Music which begins on a weak beat
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Overture - An orchestral piece of music played at the beginning of an opera, oratorio or
suite.
There were two types of overture one was called the
Italian overture and. the other the French overture.
They both, had three distinct sections.
French: 1st Slow.
2nd fast
3rd Slow
Italian: 1st Quick
2nd Slow
3rd Quick
(The French overture was also distinguished by
having dotted rhythms).
Example of a French overture: Orchestral suite no 2 in B
minor by J S Bach Example of an Italian overture: La
Griselda by A Scarlatti.
Instruments:
Basic orchestra of 14 to 16 players consisting mainly of
stringed instruments. The harpsichord was in constant use.
The organ was also popular in churches.
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Classical Period 1750 - 1800
Definition:
Music which is ordered with an emphasis on proportion and
balance.
Composers:
Haydn
Mozart
Beethoven.
Typical compositions:
Opera - Similar to Baroque opera but much more
structured. Example: Don Giovanni or The Marriage of
Figaro by Mozart.
Oratorio - Similar to the Baroque oratorio but on a much
larger scale. Example: Mass in C by Mozart.
Symphony - A piece of music for full orchestra often in
four movements. 1" movement - serious. 2"" movement slow/sad. 3"'movement - Light hearted/fun (usually in triple
time), 4th movement fast. Examples: Beethoven's 9
symphonies - Eroica (no. 3), Pastoral (no. 6), Choral (no.
9).
String Quartet - A piece of music for four string players. 2
violins, 1 viola and 1 cello.
Concerto - A piece of music for full orchestra and Soloist
in 3 movements. Example: Piano concerto in G major by
Mozart Emperor piano concerto by Beethoven.
Form and Structure:
The Classical period was a time when balance and
proportion were very important. Structures such ABA or
ABACA were common in the Baroque period but became
more so in the Classical period. A new kind of ABA
structure emerged in the Classical period. Its typical
structure was:
Exposition:
Development:
Recapitulation:
1st Subject (Tonic)
Subjects 1 and 2 are
1st Subject (Tonic)
2nd Subject (Dominant)
developed
2nd Subject (Dominant)
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Instruments:
The orchestra increased in size, new instruments included clarinet and
piano. The use of the harpsichord was discontinued.
Romantic Period 1800 - 1900
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Definition:
Music in which expression and emotion became more important than
structure or form.
Composers:
Schubert
Schumann
Wagner
Verdi
Liszt
Chopin
Tchaikovsky
Mahler
Composers were often inspired by nature,
legends and fairy tales.
Typical compositions:
Opera - Became much more dramatic and longer.
Example: The Ring by Wagner. An opera performed
over four nights approximately 25 hours in total.
Aida by Verdi.
Symphonies - Became much longer had many more
players. Composers introduced Symphonic poems
whereby the music tells a story. This kind of music
became known as progromme music. Example:
Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz.
Symphonies in the Classical period generally
had four movements. Mahler's symphonies
were much longer and often had 5 movements.
Example: Symphony of a Thousand
Lied (plural = Lieder)- A German word meaning
song. A piece of music for piano and voice.
Example: The Earlking by Schubert.
Schubert and Schumann were inspired by the
poets of the Romantic period. For example the
famous German poet Goeth.
Concerto - Similar to the Classical concerto but
again on a much bigger scale.
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The soloists who performed these concertos
were often referred to as virtuosos because
they were extremely skilful. Liszt ond Chopin
(pianists) were virtuosos, Another example
was the famous violinist Paqanini.
Examples: Piano Concerto in E Flat Major by List.
Etudes (piano composition) by Chopin. Capricci for
solo violin by Paganini.
Ballet - A story set to music (orchestral) with
dancing but with no singing. Example: Swan Lake
by Tchaikovsky.
Instruments:
Orchestra increased in size - now 60 to 100
musicians. Valves introduced onto brass
instruments. String section greatly increased.
Percussion section emerges as a major new section
of the orchestra. New instruments included: the
trombone, tuba, piccolo, contra bassoon, cor anglais,
saxophone, harp and various percussion instruments
such as tubular bells.
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20th Century Period 1900 – 2000
Composers:
Schoenberg
Debussy
Stravinsky
Sibelius
John Cage
Philip Glass
New Styles of Composition:
Serialism - Music composed by a mathematical
series of notes. Preceded atonal music which
sounded similar (weird). Example: Five Piano
Pieces by Schoenberg.
Impressionism - Different combinations of
instruments not heard before, for example the flute
and harp. Music that created an impression.
Example: L'Apres Midi D'un Faun by Debussy or
the opera Pelleas et Melisande by Debussy.
Neoclassicism - Music which sounded like classical
music but with 'wrong notes" Example: PulcineIla
by Stravinsky.
Neoromanticism - A continuation of the music
from the Romantic period in the 20'h Century.
Example: Finlandia (a symphony) by sibelius.
Experimental - Composers redefine the meaning of
music. Any sound or combination is accepted.
Example 4' 33" (4 minutes 33 seconds) by John
Cage.
Minimalism - Use of short melodic ideas repeated
with small changes. Example: Einstein on the Beach
by Philip Glass An opera in 1 act lasting over four
hours.
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Test yourself 1
1 Name a Renaissance composer.
2 Name one type of composition from the Renaissance period?
3 What 20th Century style did Sibelius write in?
4 Name one Baroque composer?
5 Name the two sections in a concerto grosso?
6 What is an Oratorio?
7 Name one Oratorio?
8 Give the dotes of the Classical period?
9 Name one composer from the Classical period?
10 How many movements are there in a Concerto?
11 How many movements are there in a symphony?
12 Who composed "The Ring"
13 Name a composer of Leider?
14 Name a new instrument introduced during the Classical period?
15 Name a new instrument introduced during the Romantic period
16 What is programme music?
17 Name one style of 20" Century music?
18 Name one composer from the 20" Century?
19 Who composed L'Apres Midi D'un Faun
20 Who wrote "Einstein on the Beach"?
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Test yourself 2
1. Name the three sections of sonata form.
2. What is the third dance in the Baroque Suite called?
3. How many movements are there in a concerto?
4. What language was religious music sung in during the Renaissance?
5. What was the name of the keyboard instrument used in the Baroque?
6. Give the dates of the Baroque period?
7. Name an opera from the Classical period?
8. In what kind of music would you find recitative?
9. What is an overture?
10. Name a ballet by Tchaikovsky?
11. Was the orchestra in the Romantic period larger or smaller?
12. Name one composer from the Romantic period who wrote piano music?
13. Name one opera from the Romantic period?
14. In which period were "lieder" composed?
15. Who composed The Marriage of Figaro.?
16. What kind of music was contrapuntal?
17. Name the four instruments in a string quartet
18. What is Programme Music"?
19. What does the word pianoforte literally mean?
20 What does polyphonic mean?
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