Frank Auletti

Prd. 10

October 6th, 2014

Homework #1

Worksheet for Music: An Appreciation - The Renaissance

Read introductory pages about the art of the Renaissance (Michelangelo's "David" is on the first
page) and answer the following:
1. What was being "reborn" during the Renaissance?
Human creativity was being rebirthed during the Renaissance
2. Who are the explorers cited as examples of the adventurers of the Renaissance?
Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan
3. What talents are mentioned in relation to da Vinci?
Being a painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, and scientist.
4. What is "humanism"?
Humanism was a focus on human life and its accomplishments. In the past, people had
believed god had controlled everything that what had happened was not due to the humans
talents, but because of god's active work. Humanists cared about what humans could do and
appreciated the ancient languages and literatures and brought them back to life through
education.
5. What cultures interested the Europeans of the Renaissance and why?
Cultures such as the Greek and Roman influenced the Renaissance because of the ancient
mythology and literature that could spark creation and that used real life human activities.
6. Who led a reform of the Catholic church during the Renaissance?
Martin Luther had led a reform of the Catholic church during the Renaissance and he was able
to post his theses about the church through the use of a printing press.
Use the "Music in the Renaissance" section and answer the following:
1. The Renaissance took place between 1450 and 1600.
2. The invention of the Printing press allowed music to be circulated more freely.
3. What effect did this invention have on the number of performers and composers?
There were far more composers and singers

4. Where were musicians employed?

Musicians were employed in Churches, courts, and towns. Some even in royal courts.
5. How did the performance of polyphonic church music change during the Renaissance?
Performances of polyphonic church music was sung by all men choirs
6. Who began to compete with the church to hire composers?
Royal Courts began to compete with the church to hire composers
7. How many performers might be employed in this competing venue?
As many as 10 to 60 musicians employed in order to compete with the church
8. What role did women hold in Italian courts?
Women were featured as virtuoso singers
9. What were the responsibilities of the church music director?
To conduct and to perfect the music
10. How did the status of composers change during the Renaissance?
The status of composers change because the composers no longer felt content not being
known by their name and they became nobility and earned money for their jobs.
11. What parts of Europe were most important to music during the Renaissance?
The Low Countries such as Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern France are important to music
during the Renaissance.
12. What type of music became most important during the period and why?
Vocal music became more important because of the humanistic interest in language.

13. What compositional technique did composers frequently employ when writing vocal music
and how did they use it?

Composers often used word painting to represent specific poetic images and expressing the
emotions of a text.
14. What is the primary texture of Renaissance music and how is it manifested?
Polyphonic. It is manifested by using typically 4, 5, or 6 parts with imitation and successions of
chords being used.
15. What other texture is sometimes heard?
A fuller sound due to the addition of a bass line
16. Explain, in your own words, how and why Renaissance music became "fuller".
Renaissance music became fuller due to the addition of a bass line that would be stretched out
throughout the piece and it allowed for triads to be built and for even some 7 chords to be
placed throughout the piece at times.