Download The Renaissance Mass: Josquin and Palestrina

The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
The musical setting of the Roman Catholic Mass
was the most important compositional genre
of the Renaissance
The Mass is the principal daily service of the Catholic
Church.
The Mass has two main divisions.
1. The Ordinary consists of those portions of the Mass said every
day.
2. The Proper consists of those portions of the Mass particular to
specific days/celebrations in the liturgical calendar.
The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
The High Mass is divided into two broad parts,
the first consisting of the Introductory and
Liturgy of the Word, and the second
consisting of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
•
Initially, all six parts of the Ordinary of the High Massthe Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and Ite
Missa Est--were set to music. The Ite Missa Est was
subsequently removed from this list.
•
A single melody, usually a plainchant, will typically
underlie all five parts of a Renaissance Mass.
The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
• In a Cantus Firmus Mass, the underlying
plainchant is heard in its original, medieval
form and usually in the tenor voice. This is
the original and most archaic form of
Renaissance Mass.
• In a Paraphrase Mass, the underlying
plainchant melody has been modernized
according to the melodic tastes of the
Renaissance. Josquin was the greatest
composer of these Masses.
The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
In an Imitation Mass, a melody other than a
plainchant is used to underlie the Mass.
1. These Masses became common during the early
sixteenth century.
2. Due to its accessibility and recognizability, this
compositional form was potentially subversive of
Church authority.
The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
The Protestant Reformation had a
profound influence on the social,
political, and artistic history of Europe.
• In 1517 the Catholic priest Martin Luther launched a
protest against aspects of the Catholic Church. The
protest rapidly became a full-blown anti-Roman
revolution.
• The Catholic hierarchy responded with the CounterReformation, the key event of which was the Council of
Trent (1545-63).
The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
1. The Council ostensibly purged the Catholic
Church of "laxities, secularisation, and abuses.“
2. The Council objected strongly to certain
aspects of Renaissance church music.
The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
Giovanni de Palestrina (c. 1525-94) was
the "saviour" of Roman Catholic church
music.
• According to legend, Palestrina composed his six-part
Pope Marcellus Mass to demonstrate that polyphony
could be made compatible with the musical doctrines of
the Counter-Reformation.
• He found artistic/creative ground between compositional
integrity and interest and the dictates of the Council of
Trent.
The Renaissance Mass:
Josquin and Palestrina
Palestrina, Pope Marcellus Mass, Agnus Dei I
(1555)
1. Vocal lines are compact and almost entirely conjunct.
2.Gentle diatonic lines and discreet chromaticism give the
music serenity and transparency.
3. Gentle regularity of rhythm helps to drive careful
polyphony.