Thomas Tallis
John Taverner
William Byrde
John Dowland
Giovanni Gabrieli
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Michael Praetorius
Tomás Luis de Victoria
Context: The Renaissance (meaning ‘rebirth’) was the end of the Dark Ages. Philosophers and artists alike turned back to the wisdom of the Ancient Greeks and Romans and began to redefine their relationship with the Church (who had previously reigned supreme over thought, art and culture). Europe regained access to key classical texts on a range of subjects and started to use the advanced mathematics developed by Islamic scholars.
‘The Vitruvian Man’ by the famous inventor and polymath, Leonardo da Vinci. He popularised accurate anatomical drawings, which were jolly helpful to those studying medicine as the Church still frowned on cutting up dead people.
Characteristics:
Polyphony– multiple interweaving voices singing highly independent melodic lines.
Modes– Renaissance music did not use scales as we know them. Instead they relied on the Church Modes to form their melodies. These can sound a little strange to the modern ear.
Instruments- Recorders, Natural Trumpets (valveless), Viols, Lute, Harp, Sackbutt, Cornett.