Music History Week 9: Secular Music in the Renaissance

-Plucked string instrument with frets, round back, and neck -Strings are in pairs "courses" except the highest -Of Middle Eastern Origin 'Ud -Played with fingertips -Solo instrument, also used in vocal and instrumental chamber in Renaissance and Baroque (as obligato or continuo instrument)

How is the lute different from the modern Guitar; what is similar?

Haut Instruments

'loud' instruments, mostly wind instruments such as: Shawms (precourser of modern oboe) Cornetts Trombones Dulcians Crumhorns ...instruments of the 'town waits' (musicians employed by a city Trumpets were instruments associated with kings and nobility

Instruments of Renaissance-you get an idea of what people liked back then-liked naisley sound quality, Earthy, funny, -people had humor-clear otherworldly sound of the cornetto. Compared to today, they are still kind of funny, but when you listen to recordings now, you can sense how much performers of early music instruments have perfected their art.

Compare the instrumental sound world of the Renaissance to the contemporary instrumental sounds (orchestra, chamber music)

-Genre of secular vocal music (usually for four or five voices) -The most important secular genre of the Renaissance -Text: usually a sophisticated poem (e.g. a sonnet), themes: love (lovesickness), morality. -Texture: A variety of homophonic and polyphonic textures are used to express the meaning of the text. - "Word painting" is used to convey the meaning of the text. -Genre began ca. 1530, remained popular until the early 1600s. -Written for the enjoyment of the singers themselves, from 1570s on: also performed by professional singers -Example of later madrigals: Luca Marenzio, "Solo e pensoso," Thomas Weelkes, "As Vesta was"

Define the term "madrigal" and discuss at least three features of this genre. Give musical examples.

-John Dowland (1563-1626) -Was one of the most celebrated lute players and composers of songs in his time. -Pattern of his career shows a close interrelation between music and politics. -1580s: Service of English ambassador in Paris. -1594/95: Journey to Germany and Italy (purpose: meet the composer Luca Marenzio). In Italy involvement in Catholic plot against Elizabeth I. Despite efforts to prove his innocence-no position at English court for him during Elizabeth's reign. -His lute song "Flow my tears" (also known as "Lachrimae") became the most famous song of its time. It is possible that its melancholy mood reflects Dowland's personal situation (the wandering, 'homeless' artist). -1598-1606: Lutenist of King Christian IV of Denmark. Paid as much as a royal admiral. English 'Secret Service' tried to recruit him as a spy there. -Published four books of lute songs. His lute and instrumental ensemble music circulated widely in continental Europe. -1612: Finally! - Position as Lutenist at the English court.

Discuss the interrelation between music and politics in the life of the lutenist John Dowland.

-It is expressed by three top voices-they move parallelly-emphasize fear and pain of experiencing other people's laughter -Pointed homophonic syncopated rhythm emphasize laughter

Ex 1) When Laughter and cheer are spent, they make situation of speaker worse

-Eighth notes running-express the running water of a river

Ex 2) Mentions running waters of the rivers in the wilderness

-Imitation in soprano, then bass, then tenor (follow each other) -Have a dull rhythm going down -Seeking for Cupid No. 49 of Norton Anthology

Ex 3) When Cupid does not seek me always

Word Painting: The use of musical gestures to reinforce or suggest images in the text, such as a falling melodic line on the word "descend". -Examples from Luca Marenzio's madrigal "Solo et pensoso": -Beginning: Series of whole notes represent "solo" (lonely); chromatic scale represents "pensoso" (pensive). -Running rivers are represented by running scalar figures (eighth notes). -Laughing is represented by parallel thirds / parallel 6/3 sonorities.

Explain the term "word painting" and give three examples for its use in a madrigal.

-Up until C.A 1480, every type of instrument basically existed only in one size or two sizes. The medieval vielle is in alto/tenor size, equivalent to the modern viola. -At the court of Isabella, instruments started playing four-part music on string instruments (with soprano, alto, tenor, bass parts) but they had to solve a problem before...there were no bass instruments, so Isabella asked instrument makers to make string instruments in the bass range Ex) Instruments of the Gamba Family-5-6 strings with frets-Instruments that previously only existed in one or two sizes were expanded to accompany for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass range-This idea was also extended to wind instruments such as recorders and early bassoons (dulcians) -The models for new instruments were at first taken from vocal music, at the court of Isabella and elsewhere. 13:18

Isabella d'Este (1474-1539) Marchesa of Mantua

-One of the most celebrated lute players and composers in his time -Career: Close interrogation between music and Politics/Religion -1563 born in England -1580s Service of English Ambassador in Paris -1594/95-Journy to Germany and Italy (Purpose: Meet Luca Marenzio) Involvement in Catholic Plot Against Elizabeth the first. Despite his efforts to prove his innocence-no position at English court. -1598-1606: Lutenist of King Christian IV of Denmark, received a Royal Salary -English 'secret service' tried to recruit him as a spy since he had private access to the King of Denmark's Chambers -Published four books of lute songs and a collection of inctrumental ensemble music, entitled "Lachrimae or Seaven Teares" (1604) -Finally! -Position as Lutenist at the English Court -The first star in music history to "market" his own personality? -Title of one piece, "Semper Dowland, Semper dolens" -Always Dowland, Always Weeping

John Dowland (1563-1625)-The Life of a melancholy Artist (First Rockstar)

-His Lute Song "Flow My Tears" first published in 1600, was one of the most popular songs of his time, Well known in the whole of Europe Thoughts on the 2 performances of his song: Excerpt 1: Instruments + 1 man singing, very lonely-syllabic no phrasing or vibrato-Sung by Sting Excerpt 2: Phrasing and vibrato-more expressive-Sung by Classically trained singer-could by why there is more vibrato and phrasing

John Dowland (1563-1626) The English Lute Song

Soprano voice moves on very slowly in whole notes, moves chromatically in halve steps slowly up until it reaches extreme heights Other voices move differently-enter in imitation, they move away from the top voice-music and text make sense together Pensive associated with half-steps to be very narrow whole notes +voices moving away could represent loneliness

Luca Marenzio's Madrigal "Solo et Pensoso" c.a 1590- How does Marenzio set the words: "Alone and pensive, the deserted fields I measure with steps deliberate and slow" to music? How does the music paint the words?

-One of the most refined secular genres in the renaissance period -Its music mirrors the complex, poetic images of the text -Its music expresses the meaning of the text by use of "word painting" -Word Painting uses "melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic parameters to express the meaning of the text -"Word Painting" developed in the Genre of the Madrigal was still widely used in later periods, in both secular and sacred genres (opera, oratorio, motet, cantata, song...). -Through the genre of the Madrigal, Italian Music became for the first time famous in the whole of Europe

Madrigal Summary

Has a spiritual, healing quality

Music connects both spears:

-Music seen as divine power -Music influences our emotions; it can help to bring them back in balance -Dowland's music: Causes "true tears" = spiritual enlightenment -

Music seen as therapy in the 17th century:

Crumhorn

People of the renaissance liked very naisly sounding instruments, this is one of them, it disappeared at the beginning of the baroque era. The double reed in this instrument is enclosed in a cap, so the players lips did not touch it.

-Preexisting vocal music (madrigals/motets) in instrumental arrangements -Variations on popular songs-tunes/dances -Free instrumental forms-fantasia, toccata, canzona -Development of independent, idiomatic style of instrumental music that was less and less dependent on vocal models

Repitoire for lute, harpsichord, and instrumental ensembles such as viol ensembles (also called 'consorts')

Viol de Gamba

Resonante sound, overtones, well suited to play polyphonic music because you can hear the individual lines very well All played in a sitting position Associated with upper classes

Bas Instrument

Soft Instruments The lute Harp Harpsichord Viol Flute Recorder ...Used as instruments for chamber music both by professional and amateur musicians

Macrocosm

The Universe, God

-Invention and cultivation of new instruments -New roles for instrumental music -New instrumental genres, new styles -Publication of significant repertoire for instruments alone Why did all of this happen in the Renaissance? Think about what was so special and new in the Renaissance and come up with a hypothesis. -Humanism: human being moved to center of attention; rulers, previously more dependent on the church became more aware of their power and used music to represent that power-display of power by secular music especially to foreign visitors

The rise of Instrumental Music in the Renaissance:

Word Painting

The use of musical gestures to reinforce or suggest images in the text, such as a falling melodic line on the word descend. The chromatic scale of whole notes represents the "measured steps" (one note after the other!) as well as the "pensive" mood (through chromaticism). The whole notes could also represent loneliness (just whole notes in the cantus!)

Microcosm

The world, the human being

Violins

Used for dance music. Genres: Pavan, Galliard, other dances Social context: Dancing (nobility), music often played by professional musicians, lower social rank. Much more direct-played with left, bowed with right. Plays fast, brash dance music Associated with lower class, professional musicians that are payed to make music for dance occasions Much more physical engagement, stood to play-not seen as appropriate for nobility

Viols

Used for polyphonic instrumental ensemble music (origins: instrumental performance of motets with points of imitation) Genres: Chanson, Motet, Fantasia-sophisticated chamber music. Social context: Enjoyment of educated amateurs (nobility, upper middle class), higher social rank. Resonante sound, overtones, well suited to play polyphonic music because you can hear the individual lines very well All played in a sitting position Associated with upper classes

Vocal Line: Character? (Virtuosic vs Simple) Lute part: character? (Harmonic Support vs Independent Role) Lute part is written out, may think that is just accompanying singer, but has its own rhythm and duration-tableture In singing voice you have the falling line followed by a minor 6th -On voice with lute accompaniment, written out, polyphonic -Melodic line simple, not virtuosic, yet artful and expressive -Form: Often in dance form (Pavan; Gilliard) "Flow my tears" has three repeated strains -No direct word painting, but music nevertheless captures the mood of the text -Prominent musical figure in "Flow my tears" (Lachrimae): Falling fourth-A,G,F,E plus rising minor 6th: Gesture of lament melancholy; this figure pervades the whole piece

What is a lute song Look at:

Cornettos

hybrid between brass and woodwind-brass instrument mouthpiece, but has finger holes and made of wood and leather, sometimes combined with trombones

-Genre of secular vocal music (usually four or five voices) The most important secular genre of the renaissance -Text: usually a sophisticated poem (e.g., a sonnet), themes: love, (lovesickness), morality -Texture: A variety of monophonic and polyphonic textures are used to express the meaning of the text -Word painting is used to convey the meaning of the test Genre began ca. 1530, remained popular until the early 1600s. Written for the enjoyment of the singers themselves, from 1570s on: also performed by professional singers -Began as being written for upper class then for professional and female singers *Females would have to do this in private *Many Madrigal texts are by the Italian Poet Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), one of the first "Renaissance Men", also one of the first mountain climbers in history

What is a madrigal?