The Renaissance Period (1430-1600) of Western Art Music sounds the most interesting to me. It really shows the growth of composing music throughout time. Polyphonic music is starting to be used in much higher levels adding in three or four additional voices as opposed to the one in Medieval motets. During the Renaissance Period other forms of music began to become popular such as: solo performances with lutes in the background, as well as consort music, which was played by instrumental ensembles. Although motets weren’t the most common sound anymore at the time, they didn’t go away they were often sang at sacred ceremonies and always in Latin.

The sound of music during the Renaissance Period was very vocal. Songs usually had 3-5 different tones of voices all complimenting one another with different melodies and pitches. Falsetto, the highest, always played the top line of songs. According to the textbook, Tenors were usually given a borrowed melody, this would be a sacred chant or secular tune. Additional melodies were also written for parts such as Sopranos, Altos, and Bass’.

During the Renaissance, music wasn’t the only thing being more discovered. The World was too, in 1492, Columbus landed in the Bahamas and Vasco de Gama landed in India in 1498. Also in 1453, the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople.

Composer: Guillaume Dufay

The piece I listened to was called Ave Maris Stella. This piece sounded just like how the textbook described it would be like; at least 3 distinct voices can be heard all throughout the song. All of which compliment one another either being a different subtle melody in the background or being the smooth undertone of another voice.