Renaissance Period in Music

Consort

A group of instrument playing together.

Johannes Ockeghem

(1420-1497) He was a singer at Notre-Dame in Antwerp. His later masses used contrapuntal techniques. He wrote masses, motets, chansons and one credo. Master of counterpoint during his time.

Josquin Des Prez

(1440-1521) Wrote sacred music and some secular music, not much known about his personal life, master of vocal polyphonic music

Thomas Tallis

(1505-1585)Known for contrapuntal techniques, wrote Spem in Alium which required at least 40 vocals.

Giovanni Palestrina

(1525-1594) Master of music at the Vatican Basilica, greatest composer of Catholic liturgical music, most famous mass is Missa papae Marcelli, sung at papal coronation.

Orlando de Lassus

(1532-1594) Wrote over 2000 works, master of motets, knighted twice by Pope Gregory XIII, wrote music using a variety of techniques from France, Germany and Italy.

William Byrd

(1540-1623) One of two composers granted to publish music in England along with Thomas Tallis, Wrote sacred and secular music, including consort music.

Maddalena Casulana

(1544-1590) Received music education in Florence, Italy. She was a singer, lutist and composer. First woman to have her music printed and published. Composed madrigals, wrote meaningful lyrics and tuneful melodies.

Giovanni Gabrieli

(1553-1612) He composed mass movement, motets, madrigals, and organ. First composer to write style markings in the music. His instrumental compositions using four parts helped developed modern orchestra.

Claudio Monteverdi

(1567- 1642) Bridged the gap from Renaissance to Baroque. Great contributor to opera and first to compose them. Music director at St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice. Worked as a string musician.

Caterina Assandra

(1590-1618) Studied counterpoint under Benedetto Re. Composer, organist and nun. Composed motets and organ pieces. Some think that Monteverdi may have been inspired to write Duo Seraphim based on her work.

Homophony

A musical texture in which one voice has the melody, while the other parts serve as accompaniment.

Counterpoint

A polyphonic composition in which two or more melodies repeat each other at different points in the music.

Motet

A sacred, polyphonic vocal composition usually, unaccompanied.

Madrigal

A secular, polyphonic song based on poems, often about love.