Characteristics of Renaissance Music

 Form

• Five movements become standard in the Mass. The cantus firmus, rhythm patterns, or other devices unify the Mass.
• Sections of works tend to be clearly demarcated.
• Use of repetition and contrast, particularly in dance and secular vocal forms.

 

Melody

• Melody is the most significant aspect of Renaissance music.
• Vocal range is still relatively small, rarely more than an octave. Instrumental melodic range is somewhat greater.
• Melodic motion is still largely conjunct, but disjunct motion increases.
• Medieval modes are still in use, but there is a trend toward today's major and minor.
• Use of word painting.

 

Rhythm

• Rhythms flow evenly in highly polyphonic pieces but can be very complex.
• Rhythmic phrases are often long and overlap between voices.
• Meters can change rapidly and repeatedly in more chordal, homophonic pieces.

 

Harmony

• Harmony still results from the interaction of independent melodic lines rather than from preplanned chord progressions.
• Sound becomes more important than acoustic rules from ancient times; hence, more use of thirds and sixths than fourths and fifths.

 

Texture

• Textures are mostly polyphonic, but homophonic textures are increasingly used for contrast and variety.
• Imitative counterpoint is a favorite device.

 

Timbre

• The human voice is the chosen timbre. At first, instruments double the voices, accompany them, or substitute for them in both sacred and secular music, but later in the 16th century, composers increasingly write pieces for instruments alone, particularly the organ, harpsichord, or virginal.
• Toward the end of the 16th century, ensembles of string and wind instruments become popular with audiences and composers.
• The lute and vihuela are the most popular stringed instruments.