MUSIC

Music of Renaissance and Baroque Period

➔ Renaissance Music (1450-1600)

- It started in Italy, but soon spread to the rest of Europe. It was a
period in which modern trade and banking were taking off, and
cities like Florence and Venice were becoming rich. The
Renaissance was turning from God to man. Science and arts
were becoming more important. This new self-confidence led
people to create a new sort of art, les governed by the Church
and medieval ways of thinking. Artists found a model for this
new creativity in the sculpture, philosophy and literature of the
greeks. But there was a basic difference between the visual art
and the music.
● Sacred Music
- The Sacred music composed during this period was composed
for the Roman Catholic Church. The style of renaissance sacred
music is described as choral polyphony (polyphonic,
counterpoint, contrapuntal, meaning more than one part.
Homophonic means moving in chords. Monophonic means one
melody line. Choral polyphony was intended to be sung a
cappella (without instruments). The main forms were the mass
and the motet. They had four parts, based on modes, but
composers gradually added more accidentals. At the side is an
example of sacred music, entitled “Dominika in Palmis” or Palm
Sunday which sung in.
● Secular Music
- This was music independent of churches (i.e. non religious). The
main type was the song, lied (German), madrigal (Italian),
chanson (French), frottola (Italian), and villancico (Spanish).
- The following are some Renaissance Vocal forms which are
polyphonic in texture.
1. The mass as a standard liturgical form. It was polyphonic in
style, with plainsong used for the tenor parts.
2. A motet was a sacred choral composition based on a single
Latin text and sung in all voice parts. It was also written on a
variety of different subjects, usually derived from the Bible.
Characteristics of Renaissance Music
➢ Music still based on modes, but gradually more accidentals creep in.
➢ Richer texture with four or more parts. Bass part is added below the tenor.
➢ Blending rather than contrasting strands in the musical texture.
➢ Its harmony has greater concern with the flow and progression of chords.
➢ In church music, some pieces were intended for “a cappella” performance.
➢ There are secular music/non religious music
➢ The characteristic timbres of Renaissance musical instruments - many
forming families
➢ Polyphony is one of the notable changes that mark the Renaissance from the
Middle ages musically. Its use encouraged the use of larger ensembles and
demanded set of instruments that would blend together across the whole
vocal range.
Instrumental Music
- There was a growth in instrumental music, especially the lute
and keyboard. The most popular instrument of the Renaissance
was the lute. Until the beginning of the 16th century, instrument
were used for dances, and to accompany vocal music - but here
they only doubled the voices. During the 16th century, however,
composers look greater interest in writing music for instrument.
A lot of these instrument were intended for outside. Some
examples:

● Lute
● Racket
● Viol
● Sackbut (Early trombone)
● Crumhorn
● Trumpet (Valveless)
The Lord is my light and my Salvation:
Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the
protector of my life: of whom shall I be
afraid? My enemies that trouble me
have themselves been weakened and
have fallen.
If armies in camp should stand together
against me, my heart shall not fear.
Hear, O Lord, my voice which I have
cried to Thee: be Thou my helper
forsake me not, nor do Thou despise me,
O God, my Salvation, whom shall I fear?

-Psalm 26
Palestrina and His Works
➔ Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (3 February
1525 or 2 February 1526 - 2 February 1594)
was an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred
music. He was one of the most respected
persons in liturgical music and the foremost
composer of the Roman Catholic Church.
Palestrina was born poor parents and little is
known of his early life. He said to have earned
his living first as a church-singer. He probably
studied in Goudimel’s school. Later he was an
organist in Palestrina, the town of his birth,
then magister puerorum (master of the boys
singers) in the Cappella Giula with the title
Maestro della Cappella della Basilica Vaticana.
➔ He wrote such numerous musical Example: O Magnum Mysterium
compositions of masses and motets. Some of
them were published during his time and
others were collected later, from papal choir
books and others sources. A large quantity of
his works remained unpublished until the
complete edition of his works was published
by Breitkopf and Hartel, the great German
publisher, in the 19th Century. Palestrina left
hundreds of compositions, including 105
masses, 68 offertories, at least 140 madrigals
and more than 300 motets. In addition, there
are at least 72 hymns, 35 magnificants, 11
litanies, and 4 or 5 sets of lamentations.
Baroque Music (1600-1760)
➔ The Baroque period in music dates from approximately 1600 to
1760. The word baroque is derived from the Portuguese
barroco, or “a pearl with irregular shape,” which has been widely
used since the nineteenth century to describe the period in
Western European art music. Baroque was a shift from the
previous Renaissance Period, which included Masses and
Madrials. The music of this period reflects the decorative art in
the use of ornamentation to embroider melodies with thick and
complex polyphonic texture similarity as that of the art and
architecture.
 Elements of Music Characteristic
Melody A single melodic idea.

Rhythm Continuous rhythmic drive.

Texture Balance of Homophonic (melody
with chordal harmony) and
polyphonic textures.

Timbre Orchestral - strings, winds and

harpsichord with very little
percussion.

Dynamics Abrupt shifts from loud to soft -

achieved by adding or subtracting
instruments.
Renaissance Vocal Music
● Monody - a single voice line supported by an instrumental bass line,
upon which chords were constructed.
● Oratorio - a vocal music that was at first very similar to operas and
born about the same as opera. They had arias, choruses and
recitatives and were acted out with scenery and costumes.
● Passion - a special oratorio telling the story of Christ’s crucifixion.
● Cantata - (it means sung) is a vocal composition with an instrumental
accompaniment, typically in several movements. These are for
soloists and choruses, accompanied by orchestra and continuo, and
are like miniature oratorios.
Instrumental Music
● Fugue - a contrapuntal piece, based upon the idea of imitation. It is usually
written in 3 or 4 parts, called ‘voices’, and these are referred to as Soprano,
Alto, Tenor and Bass.
● The Chorale Prelude - usually for organ, and most of them were composed in
Germany. It is based on a chorale, could be in Fugal style, or a set of
variations.
● Suite - a collection of dances for one or more instruments.
● Sonata - means sounded (to be played). Many Baroque sonatas were for two
violins and continuo (usually cello and harpsichord). Composers called
these trio sonatas (there are only tree music lines - the harpsichord plays
the figured bass).
● The Concerto Grosso - The word concerto means get together. The idea of
opposition and contrast led two contrasting groups of instruments: A small
group of soloists (usually two violins and a cello), called the concertino, and an
orchestra of strings called either the ripieno or the tutti.
● The Solo Concerto - This grew out of the Concerto Grosso, and has a single
instrument solo, and a string orchestra. There are solo sections. The quick
movements were often in ritomello form: Tutti 1, Solo 1, Tutti 2, Solo 2, Tutti 3,
etc.
● The Orchestra - During the Baroque Period, it started to take shape. The string
section became a self-contained unit. To this composers would add other
instruments in ones and twos: Flutes, Recorders, Oboes, Bassoons, Horns, and
occasionally trumpets and kettle drums.
Musical Composers
of Baroque Period
Johann Sebastian Bach
March 21, 1685 - July 28, 1750
➔ Born in Eisenach, Germany where his father was a
town musician. When he was 10, both his parents
had died so he was brought up by his older
brother, who was a church organist. Johann
became a very good organist, too.
➔ He was one of the greatest composers of all time,
but during his lifetime, he was little-performing on
the organ. He composed in many established
musical forms, including, for example, the cantata
and gugue, and developed them into complex and
sublime pieces. He composed over 1,100 works in
almost every musical genre (except opera).
George Frideric Handel
February 23, 1685 - April 14, 1759

➔ He was a German-British Baroque

composer who is famous for his
operas, oratorios, and concertos.
Handel was born in Germany in the
same year as Johann Sebastian Bach
and Domenico Scarlatti. Though there
were no musicians in his family, he
was discovered to have strong
propensity in music. At the age of
eleven, he could already play the
violin, harpsichord, oboe and organ.
Music of the
Classical Period
Classical Music (1750-1820):
Characteristics and Vocal Forms

➔ The classical period itself lasted from approximately 1750 to

1820. This era has also been called the age of Enlightenment or
Age of Reason. The term classical is applied to the period
because there was keen interest in, admiration for and
emulation of the classical artistic and literary heritage of Greece
and Rome in art and literature.
SONATA
- classical sonata follows the traditional
sonata form, which of course is one of the
biggest trademarks of the era. The work is
in four movements. The entire work is
about 23 minutes long.

- In sonata-allegro form
- Slow, singing and elegant
- A short scherzo
- Also in sonata-allegro form with a
short glimpse of the first movement in
the middle.
SYMPHONY
- Classical symphony is a composition for
orchestra which lasts from 20 to 45
minutes. It has four movements which
contrast in tempo and mood.

The four movements of the symphony are:

● Fast and lively
● Slow
● Fast
● Brilliant or Heroic fast
CONCERTO
- This is an instrumental form for a solo
instrument like the piano, trumpet,
violin or any other instrument, and of
course, with the accompaniment of
orchestra. This shows the great
performance of the instrumentalist.
The three movements of the concerto
are:

● Sonata form
● Slow and lyrical
● Fast
● Opera
Franz Joseph Haydn
March 31, 1732 - May 31, 1809
➔ He was born in the village of Rohrau, near Vienna. Haydn was one of
three boys of Mathias Haydn who was a master wheelwright and Anna
MAria Koller who was a cook for Count Karl Anton Harrach. His
brothers were Michael and Johann Evangelist who both became
musicians too. At age eight he was recruited to the choir at St. Stephen’s
Cathedral. He learned the head of the musical establishment at the
palace of the Esterhazy family. He was the principal shaper of the
Classical style, writing 106 symphonies. His choral works included The
Creation and The Seasons.
Haydn ‘ s Major Works
- He composed more than a hundred
symphonies. Although he composed some
choral works, the core of his output was very
much instrumental music, ranging from
chamber to orchestral works. Among his better
known works are the following, though there is
some doubt about the exact number of works
written in some categories:

● Symphony No. 31 - “The Horn Signal”

● Symphony No. 45 - “The Farewell”
● Symphony No. 82-87 - “The Paris Symphonies”
 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

➔ He was born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria and

baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgang
Theophilus Mozart. He was born to Leopold Mozart
and Anna Maria Pert,. His only surviving sibling was his
older sister Maria Anna who also was exquisite pianist.
He died on December 4, 1791. He was a prolific and
highly influential composer of Classical music. As a
child prodigy, Mozart wrote his first symphony when he
was 12. His enormous output of more than six hundred
compositions includes works that are widely
acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, chamber,
piano, operatic and choral music.
Mozart‘s Famous Works
- Divertimento No. 11 in D minor
Ludwig van Beethoven
➔ He was said to be born on December 16, 1770 in Bonn, then the
capital of the Electorate of Cologne and a part of the Holy
Roman Empire of the German Nation in present day Germany,
and baptized on the next day, 17th of December 1770. At an
early age, Van Beethoven displayed an interest in music and his
father taught him day and night whenever he was home.
Without a doubt, the child was gifted and his father Johann,
envisaged creating new Mozert, a child prodigy. At the age 7,
Ludwig van Beethoven gave his first public performance at
Cologne.
Here are some of his works:

● Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor, op. 73 - E flat Major

Music of the
Romantic Period
Romantic Period (1850-1920)
➔ England was flourishing during the eighteenth century but two major political
revolutions occurred. Even though the revolts took place outside of England, it
happened to have a powerful effect on people’s ideas. First, there was the
revolt by the English Colonies in America against the economic and political
control of the mother country. The Triumph of American independence
changed people’s thoughts and blown up their confidence. Anyhow, this
occasion could not be compared to the second revolution, which took place in
France; a complete overthrown of the government. These radical changes
created an idea on English people that the revolution could easily happen in
England, anytime and anywhere. But the
➔ The Romantic period was an era of enormous change and emancipation. The
Romantic period moved away from the classical style of strict laws of balance
and restraint by allowing artistic freedom, experimentation, and creativity.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

➔ Brahms was a German composer of

Romantic music, who predominantly lived in
Vienna, Austria. So inspired was he by
Beethoven’s symphonies that it took Brahms
more than 10 years to write his first. It was
instantly hailed as “Beethoven’s Tenth.”
➔ Brahms music became more refined and
distinctly stylized from other composers. He
often achieved a balance between the
Romantic exaggeration and experimentation
of the era with the structural clarity of the
Classical era.
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

➔ He was Polish musical composer and

pianist born at Zelazowa-Wola, near
Warsaw, on the 22nd of February
1810. He was considered to be a
child prodigy because he began
playing the piano at the age four. He
was known for his beautiful piano
compositions which were
appreciated and was praised by the
other well-known composers of the
era. Chopin was titled as the “Poet of
Piano”.
 Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
➔ Puccini was born on 22nd day of December
1858 and died on 29th of November 1924. He
was the most important composer of Italian
opera after Verdi. Puccini was one of the
greatest exponents of operatic realism, who
virtually brought the history of Italian opera to
an end. He wrote in the verismo style, a
counterpart to the movement of Realism in
literature and a trend that favored subjects and
characters from everyday life for opera. On his
often commonplace settings Puccini lavished
memorable melodies and lush orchestrations.
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
➔ He was an Austrian composer who
wrote some six hundred romantic
songs as well as any operas,
symphonies, sonatas and many
other works. Today, with his
imaginative, lyrical and melodic
style, he is counted among the most
gifted composers of the 19th
century.
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1804-1894)
➔ Russian born, he is regarded
today as one of the greatest
and most popular
symphonists, second only to
Beethoven. He is today as one
of the most expressive
Romantic composers to come
from Russia.
Guiseppi Verdi (1813-1901)
➔ He was an Italian Romantic composer known for his
operas. He was one of the most influential
composers of the 19th century. Some of his themes
have long since taken root in popular culture - such
as “La donna e mobile” from Rigoletto, “Va,
pensiero” (The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) from
Nabucco, “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” (the Drinking
Song) from La traviata and the “Grand March” from
Aida. Although his work was sometimes criticized
for using a generally diatonic rather than a
chromatic musical idiom and having a tendency
toward melodrama. Verdi’s masterworks dominate
the standard repertoire through a century and a
half.
Richard Wagner (1813-1833)
➔ Wagner was not only a German operatic
composer, conductor and theatre
director but also anarchist, polemicist
and writer. He was born on May 22,
1813 in Leipzig, Germany. He is
undoubtedly one of the leading figures
of the 19th century. He was known
because of his 13 operas and numerous
other compositions. Already at his time,
he was source of debate and
controversy. When Wagner died in
1883, over 10,000 books and articles
were written about him
THE
MEDIUMS OF
MUSIC
THE PROPERTIES OF MUSICAL SOUND
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
COMPONENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF MUSIC
MUSIC

• An art that deals with sound.

• Is a collection of coordinated sounds.
PROPERTIES OF MUSICAL SOUND
PITCH
• Highness or lowness of a
tone.
DURATION
• Amount of time or
interval over which
vibration maintained.
TWO MEDIUMS OF MUSIC
VOCAL MEDIUM
• The oldest and most popular
of all instruments.
• Comes within the body.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
• Any device producing a
musical sound.
• percussion, stringed,
keyboard, wind, and
electronic.
DIFFERENT VOCAL REGISTERS

FEMALE VOICE MALE VOICE

a)Soprano a)Tenor
b)Mezzo-soprano b)Baritone
c) Alto or Contralto c) Bass
VOICE
QUALITIES
• Coloratura Soprano – highest and lightest of all voice.
• Lyric Soprano – less high or flute-like.
• Dramatic Soprano – heavier and conveys intense emotion.
• Mezzo-Soprano – between soprano and contralto.
• Contralto – low and rich quality.
• Tenor – highest male voice.
• Lyric Tenor – sweet song-like melodies.
• Dramatic Tenor – heavier voice for dramatic situations.
• Baritone – range between tenor and bass.
• Bass Voice – lowest and deepest quality.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
THREE MAIN TYPES
1. String Instruments (bowed and
plucked)
2. Brass and Woodwinds
Instruments (blown)
3. Percussions (struck)
STRING INSTRUMENTS
Bowed String Instruments

Violin – highest Viola – lower Violoncello – Double Bass/

member of in range. Used lower in range Contrabass – Lowest
string section in for harmony. than viola. range in string
orchestra. family.
STRING INSTRUMENTS
Plucked Strings Instruments

Guitar – The most popular string

instrument. Consist of finger board
with frets.
WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS
Pitch is altered by shortening or lengthening the column of air vibrating inside the instruments.

Flute – Piccolo – Oboe – timbre English Horn – a

coloratura highest notes described as plaintive, large oboe. Soft
soprano in in orchestra. nasal, and ready. and mournful
orchestra. timbre.

Clarinet – often Bassoon – most Saxophone – It

takes part in a flexible and blends well with
violin band music. useful of the either woodwind or
bass instruments. bass
BRASS INSTRUMENTS
They are indispensable for their ability to be play very loudly, for melody, harmony, and
climax.

Trumpet – firm and Trombone – “large Cornet – is a brass-

brilliant timbre that instrument”. It is wind musical
lends radiance to rich and mellow. instrument of
orchestra. Can be classify as trumpet family.
tenor or bass. Used in orchestra,
band and brass
Horn/ French Horn Tuba – is the bass bands.
– has smooth and of bass choir.
mellow tone but Sounds like bass
may sound very trombone but
brassy. fuller, richer, and
more powerful.
 PERCUSSION
Made sound by hitting them with special sticks, or by striking or shaking their parts together.

Definite Pitch

Kettledrums/ Timpani – Glockenspiel – produce Xylophone – produce dry,

produce a mysterious bright metallic sound. crisp timbre when struck.
rumble or thunderous roll.
 PERCUSSION
Made sound by hitting them with special sticks, or by striking or shaking their parts together.

Indefinite Pitch

Snare/ Side Drum – Bass Drum – biggest Chime – set of tuned Harp – earliest and
small drum in drum in orchestra. metal tubes. church oldest musical
orchestra. Used in orchestra and bells. instrument. Produce
bands. crystalline tone that
blend well in
orchestral timbre.
 KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS

Piano – basically a string Organ – a wind Celesta – considered as Harpsichord – a string

instrument, and those instrument whose a percussion instrument instrument that is
strings are struck by controlled by two or of definite pitch, a steel plucked with the help
hammers. Most popular more keyboards. plate which are of keyboard, it is called
of all instruments. hammered. quills.
COMBINATIONS OF INSTRUMENTS
Ensemble is the medium used by two or more performers. Ensemble Music refers to music
created by group.
Orchestra – the most spectacular of the
ensembles composed of resizable group of
performers.

Symphony Orchestra – it is a large ensembles

composed of four sections corresponding to four
instrumental groupings.

Concerto – a solo of one instrument and it is

accompanied by an orchestra.
COMBINATIONS OF INSTRUMENTS
Ensemble is the medium used by two or more performers. Ensemble Music refers to music
created by group.

Band – large like orchestra but exclusive for wind

and percussion instruments. Rock band is composed
of guitars, keyboards, and drum kit.

Rondalla – band made up of different string

instruments: banduria, banjo, octavina, laud,
piccolo, and guitar.
MIXED ENSEMBLES
Includes instruments and voices.

1. Opera – singer and musicians makes a dramatic work combining

text (called
libretto) and musical score.
2. Oratorio – a large musical composition, including a orchestra, choir,
and soloist.
Not like opera, it doesn’t require props and costumes.
3. Cantata – a vocal composition with an instrumental
accompaniment, typically in
several movements, and often involve choir.
4. Chamber Orchestra – small instrumental ensemble, there are only
few performers for part. Chamber music only calls for few: solo
sonatas, string quartet, duos, trios, quintets, and others.
MUSICAL NOTATIONS
NOTATION OF PITCH

1. Staff – has five lines and four spaces.

2. Clef – a letter sign places on the staff in order to indicate the pitch
of notes.

3. Leger Lines – short lines used to indicate which lie below or above
the range of staff.

4. Octave – pitch distance between ny note and the next of the

same letter, either to the right or left on the key board.
MUSICAL NOTATIONS
NOTATION OF DURATION indicates the duration of a note.
MUSICAL NOTATIONS
NOTATION OF DURATION indicates the duration of a note.

1. Meter – series of regular pulses, grouped in twos, threes or fours.

2. Time Signature – shows the number of beats to a measure.

3. Measures – vertical lines or bars down through the staff.

4. Double Bar – used to make the end of a composition.

5. Accent Mark above a note – gives extra stress to the note it

accompanies.

6. Cresendo Mark – indicates gradual increase in loudness.

MUSICAL NOTATIONS
NOTATION OF DURATION

7. Decresendo Mark – indicates gradual decrease in loudness.

8. Fermata – means the holding of a note/chord longer than its

normal value.

9. Dot over/under a note – indicates staccato, i.e. detached,

shortening the sound.

10. Curved Line above/below notes – means legato, i.e. connected,

no silence between notes.

11. Passage/ Section of music between the signs is to be repeated

MUSICAL NOTATIONS
NOTATION OF DURATION

12. Key Signature – group of flats or sharps appearing at the

beginning of a piece.