Chapter 6 The Renaissance

Instrumental Music: Early Developments

Key Terms
Pavane Galliard Jig Stylization

Renaissance Dance Music

The Renaissance masters wrote vocal music primarily Little instrumental music written c. 1500 Yet, lute, violin, and harpsichord became more prominent in the 1500s Instrumental dance music became more and more popular in the late Renaissance An international phenomenondances from many nations were used throughout Europe

Renaissance Dance Music

Popular dances included:
Pavanesolemn dance in a slow duple meter with formal stepping and stopping Galliardlively dance in compound (fast triple) meter; vigorous kicking and leaping steps Saltarelloquick Italian dance with a skipping step Jigvery fast dance in compound meter from the British Isles Branslesimple French dance with many sideways steps

Renaissance Dance Features

Each dance has a characteristic rhythm that supports the dance steps Dance textures are simpler than in vocal musicgenerally homophonic Repetition and contrast frequently used Simple tunes, often ornamented, especially when repeated Most dances written for dancing, but more sophisticated stylized dances emerge, intended for listening!

Galliard, Daphne
Violin family ensemble Strong rhythmic patterns over a clear beat with triple meter feel One primary melody, simple homophonic texture Clear cadences and repeated phrases (a a b b c c) 1st violin ornaments repeats extensively

Kemps Jig
Features recorder, lute, and viola da gamba Lively and rhythmicfast duple meter One primary melody; simple homophonic texture Simple pattern of repetition and contrast (a a b) Increasing ornamentation as dance repeats Cadence elision at measures 8-9 subtly disrupts four-bar groupingsan example of stylization!