The Renaissance or “rebirth” was a period from 1400 to 1600 of significant changes in history including music. Moving away from the medieval period, where every facet of life, include music was church-driven, you begin to see that the church was starting to lose some of its influence. Instead, the kings, princes and other prominent members of the courts were beginning to have an impact on the direction of music.

Popular Music Forms

During the Renaissance, composers took known musical forms from church music and secularized them. Forms of music that evolved during the Renaissance included the cantus firmus, chorale, French chansons, and madrigals.

Cantus Firmus

Cantus firmus, which meant “firm chant,” was commonly used in the Middle Ages and was strongly based on the Gregorian chant. Composers dropped the chants and instead incorporated secular, folk music. Another reform, composers would flip the “firm voice” from being the usual bottom voice (of the Middle Ages) to either a top or middle part.

Chorale

Before the Renaissance, music in church was usually sung by the clergy. The period saw the rise of the chorale, which was a hymn that was meant to be sung by a congregation. Its earliest form was monophonic, which then evolved into a four-part harmony.

Chanson

The French chanson is a polyphonic French song that was originally for two to four voices. During the Renaissance, composers were less restricted to the formes fixes (fixed form) of chansons and experimented on new styles that were similar to contemporary motets (sacred, voice-only short song) and liturgical music.

Madrigals

An Italian madrigal is defined as polyphonic secular music that was performed in groups of four to six singers who sang mostly love songs. It had served two principal roles: as a pleasant private entertainment for small groups of skilled amateur musicians or as a small part of a large ceremonial public performance. Most of the earliest madrigals were commissioned by the Medici family. There were three distinct periods of madrigals.

Significant Dates Event and Composers

1397-1474 The lifetime of Guillaume Dufay, a French and Flemish composer, popular as a leading composer of the early Renaissance. He is known for his church music and secular songs. One of his compositions, “Nuper Rosarum Flores” was written for the consecration of Florence’s great cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo) in 1436.

1450 - 1550 During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Known composers during this period were Johannes Ockeghem, Jacob Obrecht, and Josquin Desprez.​​

1500-1550 Experimentation with French chansons. Known composers during this period were Clément Janequin and Claudin de Sermisy.

1517 Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther. Significant changes occurred to church music such as the introduction of a chorale. It was also the period when the Psalms of the Bible were translated into French and then set to music.

1500 - 1540 Composers Adrian Willaert and Jacob Arcadelt were among those who developed the earliest Italian madrigals.

1525-1594 The lifetime of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, known as the high Renaissance composer of Counter-Reformation sacred music. During this period Renaissance polyphony reached its height.

1550 Catholic Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563 to discuss complaints against the church including its music.

1540-1570 In the 1550s, thousands of madrigals were composed in Italy. Philippe de Monte was perhaps the most prolific of all madrigal composers. Composer Orlando Lassus left Italy and brought the madrigal form to Munich.

1548-1611 The lifetime of Tomas Luis de Victoria, Spanish composer during the Renaissance who composed mainly sacred music.

1543-1623 The lifetime of William Byrd, leading English composer of the late Renaissance who composed church, secular, consort and keyboard music.

1554-1612 The lifetime of Giovanni Gabrielli, known composer in Venetian high Renaissance music who wrote instrumental and church music.

1563-1626 The lifetime of John Dowland, known for his lute music in Europe and composed beautiful melancholic music.

1570-1610 The last period of madrigals was highlighted by two reforms, madrigals would take on a lighter tone incorporating more whimsy, and madrigals once a small, intimate performance, would be concertized. Known composers were Luca Marenzio, Carlo Gesualdo, and Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi is also known as the transitional figure to the Baroque music era. John Farmer was a popular English madrigal composer.

The Differences Between Schools Ars Antiqua and Ars Nova

What Is Choral Music?

Texture and Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Music

Music History: Different Types of Music Over the Centuries

Medieval Music Timeline

A Beginner’s Guide to Music History

The Top Famous Renaissance Composers

‘Panis Angelicus’ Lyrics and Translation

Composers and Musicians of the Middle Ages

Secular Music During the Middle Ages

A Cappella Music

The Requiem Mass

Types of Operas

Types of Musical Texture

What Is the Art Song Musical Genre?

Classical Music Composer Timeline

Home

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Careers

Activities

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

The Renaissance or “rebirth” was a period from 1400 to 1600 of significant changes in history including music. Moving away from the medieval period, where every facet of life, include music was church-driven, you begin to see that the church was starting to lose some of its influence. Instead, the kings, princes and other prominent members of the courts were beginning to have an impact on the direction of music.

Popular Music Forms

During the Renaissance, composers took known musical forms from church music and secularized them. Forms of music that evolved during the Renaissance included the cantus firmus, chorale, French chansons, and madrigals.

Cantus Firmus

Cantus firmus, which meant “firm chant,” was commonly used in the Middle Ages and was strongly based on the Gregorian chant. Composers dropped the chants and instead incorporated secular, folk music. Another reform, composers would flip the “firm voice” from being the usual bottom voice (of the Middle Ages) to either a top or middle part.

Chorale

Before the Renaissance, music in church was usually sung by the clergy. The period saw the rise of the chorale, which was a hymn that was meant to be sung by a congregation. Its earliest form was monophonic, which then evolved into a four-part harmony.

Chanson

The French chanson is a polyphonic French song that was originally for two to four voices. During the Renaissance, composers were less restricted to the formes fixes (fixed form) of chansons and experimented on new styles that were similar to contemporary motets (sacred, voice-only short song) and liturgical music.

Madrigals

An Italian madrigal is defined as polyphonic secular music that was performed in groups of four to six singers who sang mostly love songs. It had served two principal roles: as a pleasant private entertainment for small groups of skilled amateur musicians or as a small part of a large ceremonial public performance. Most of the earliest madrigals were commissioned by the Medici family. There were three distinct periods of madrigals.

Significant Dates Event and Composers

1397-1474 The lifetime of Guillaume Dufay, a French and Flemish composer, popular as a leading composer of the early Renaissance. He is known for his church music and secular songs. One of his compositions, “Nuper Rosarum Flores” was written for the consecration of Florence’s great cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo) in 1436.

1450 - 1550 During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Known composers during this period were Johannes Ockeghem, Jacob Obrecht, and Josquin Desprez.​​

1500-1550 Experimentation with French chansons. Known composers during this period were Clément Janequin and Claudin de Sermisy.

1517 Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther. Significant changes occurred to church music such as the introduction of a chorale. It was also the period when the Psalms of the Bible were translated into French and then set to music.

1500 - 1540 Composers Adrian Willaert and Jacob Arcadelt were among those who developed the earliest Italian madrigals.

1525-1594 The lifetime of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, known as the high Renaissance composer of Counter-Reformation sacred music. During this period Renaissance polyphony reached its height.

1550 Catholic Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563 to discuss complaints against the church including its music.

1540-1570 In the 1550s, thousands of madrigals were composed in Italy. Philippe de Monte was perhaps the most prolific of all madrigal composers. Composer Orlando Lassus left Italy and brought the madrigal form to Munich.

1548-1611 The lifetime of Tomas Luis de Victoria, Spanish composer during the Renaissance who composed mainly sacred music.

1543-1623 The lifetime of William Byrd, leading English composer of the late Renaissance who composed church, secular, consort and keyboard music.

1554-1612 The lifetime of Giovanni Gabrielli, known composer in Venetian high Renaissance music who wrote instrumental and church music.

1563-1626 The lifetime of John Dowland, known for his lute music in Europe and composed beautiful melancholic music.

1570-1610 The last period of madrigals was highlighted by two reforms, madrigals would take on a lighter tone incorporating more whimsy, and madrigals once a small, intimate performance, would be concertized. Known composers were Luca Marenzio, Carlo Gesualdo, and Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi is also known as the transitional figure to the Baroque music era. John Farmer was a popular English madrigal composer.

The Differences Between Schools Ars Antiqua and Ars Nova

What Is Choral Music?

Texture and Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Music

Music History: Different Types of Music Over the Centuries

Medieval Music Timeline

A Beginner’s Guide to Music History

The Top Famous Renaissance Composers

‘Panis Angelicus’ Lyrics and Translation

Composers and Musicians of the Middle Ages

Secular Music During the Middle Ages

A Cappella Music

The Requiem Mass

Types of Operas

Types of Musical Texture

What Is the Art Song Musical Genre?

Classical Music Composer Timeline

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

The Renaissance or “rebirth” was a period from 1400 to 1600 of significant changes in history including music. Moving away from the medieval period, where every facet of life, include music was church-driven, you begin to see that the church was starting to lose some of its influence. Instead, the kings, princes and other prominent members of the courts were beginning to have an impact on the direction of music.

Popular Music Forms

During the Renaissance, composers took known musical forms from church music and secularized them. Forms of music that evolved during the Renaissance included the cantus firmus, chorale, French chansons, and madrigals.

Cantus Firmus

Cantus firmus, which meant “firm chant,” was commonly used in the Middle Ages and was strongly based on the Gregorian chant. Composers dropped the chants and instead incorporated secular, folk music. Another reform, composers would flip the “firm voice” from being the usual bottom voice (of the Middle Ages) to either a top or middle part.

Chorale

Before the Renaissance, music in church was usually sung by the clergy. The period saw the rise of the chorale, which was a hymn that was meant to be sung by a congregation. Its earliest form was monophonic, which then evolved into a four-part harmony.

Chanson

The French chanson is a polyphonic French song that was originally for two to four voices. During the Renaissance, composers were less restricted to the formes fixes (fixed form) of chansons and experimented on new styles that were similar to contemporary motets (sacred, voice-only short song) and liturgical music.

Madrigals

An Italian madrigal is defined as polyphonic secular music that was performed in groups of four to six singers who sang mostly love songs. It had served two principal roles: as a pleasant private entertainment for small groups of skilled amateur musicians or as a small part of a large ceremonial public performance. Most of the earliest madrigals were commissioned by the Medici family. There were three distinct periods of madrigals.

Significant Dates Event and Composers

1397-1474 The lifetime of Guillaume Dufay, a French and Flemish composer, popular as a leading composer of the early Renaissance. He is known for his church music and secular songs. One of his compositions, “Nuper Rosarum Flores” was written for the consecration of Florence’s great cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo) in 1436.

1450 - 1550 During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Known composers during this period were Johannes Ockeghem, Jacob Obrecht, and Josquin Desprez.​​

1500-1550 Experimentation with French chansons. Known composers during this period were Clément Janequin and Claudin de Sermisy.

1517 Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther. Significant changes occurred to church music such as the introduction of a chorale. It was also the period when the Psalms of the Bible were translated into French and then set to music.

1500 - 1540 Composers Adrian Willaert and Jacob Arcadelt were among those who developed the earliest Italian madrigals.

1525-1594 The lifetime of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, known as the high Renaissance composer of Counter-Reformation sacred music. During this period Renaissance polyphony reached its height.

1550 Catholic Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563 to discuss complaints against the church including its music.

1540-1570 In the 1550s, thousands of madrigals were composed in Italy. Philippe de Monte was perhaps the most prolific of all madrigal composers. Composer Orlando Lassus left Italy and brought the madrigal form to Munich.

1548-1611 The lifetime of Tomas Luis de Victoria, Spanish composer during the Renaissance who composed mainly sacred music.

1543-1623 The lifetime of William Byrd, leading English composer of the late Renaissance who composed church, secular, consort and keyboard music.

1554-1612 The lifetime of Giovanni Gabrielli, known composer in Venetian high Renaissance music who wrote instrumental and church music.

1563-1626 The lifetime of John Dowland, known for his lute music in Europe and composed beautiful melancholic music.

1570-1610 The last period of madrigals was highlighted by two reforms, madrigals would take on a lighter tone incorporating more whimsy, and madrigals once a small, intimate performance, would be concertized. Known composers were Luca Marenzio, Carlo Gesualdo, and Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi is also known as the transitional figure to the Baroque music era. John Farmer was a popular English madrigal composer.

The Renaissance or “rebirth” was a period from 1400 to 1600 of significant changes in history including music. Moving away from the medieval period, where every facet of life, include music was church-driven, you begin to see that the church was starting to lose some of its influence. Instead, the kings, princes and other prominent members of the courts were beginning to have an impact on the direction of music.

During the Renaissance, composers took known musical forms from church music and secularized them. Forms of music that evolved during the Renaissance included the cantus firmus, chorale, French chansons, and madrigals.

Cantus Firmus

Cantus firmus, which meant “firm chant,” was commonly used in the Middle Ages and was strongly based on the Gregorian chant. Composers dropped the chants and instead incorporated secular, folk music. Another reform, composers would flip the “firm voice” from being the usual bottom voice (of the Middle Ages) to either a top or middle part.

Chorale

Before the Renaissance, music in church was usually sung by the clergy. The period saw the rise of the chorale, which was a hymn that was meant to be sung by a congregation. Its earliest form was monophonic, which then evolved into a four-part harmony.

Chanson

The French chanson is a polyphonic French song that was originally for two to four voices. During the Renaissance, composers were less restricted to the formes fixes (fixed form) of chansons and experimented on new styles that were similar to contemporary motets (sacred, voice-only short song) and liturgical music.

Madrigals

An Italian madrigal is defined as polyphonic secular music that was performed in groups of four to six singers who sang mostly love songs. It had served two principal roles: as a pleasant private entertainment for small groups of skilled amateur musicians or as a small part of a large ceremonial public performance. Most of the earliest madrigals were commissioned by the Medici family. There were three distinct periods of madrigals.

Significant Dates Event and Composers

1397-1474 The lifetime of Guillaume Dufay, a French and Flemish composer, popular as a leading composer of the early Renaissance. He is known for his church music and secular songs. One of his compositions, “Nuper Rosarum Flores” was written for the consecration of Florence’s great cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo) in 1436.

1450 - 1550 During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Known composers during this period were Johannes Ockeghem, Jacob Obrecht, and Josquin Desprez.​​

1500-1550 Experimentation with French chansons. Known composers during this period were Clément Janequin and Claudin de Sermisy.

1517 Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther. Significant changes occurred to church music such as the introduction of a chorale. It was also the period when the Psalms of the Bible were translated into French and then set to music.

1500 - 1540 Composers Adrian Willaert and Jacob Arcadelt were among those who developed the earliest Italian madrigals.

1525-1594 The lifetime of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, known as the high Renaissance composer of Counter-Reformation sacred music. During this period Renaissance polyphony reached its height.

1550 Catholic Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563 to discuss complaints against the church including its music.

1540-1570 In the 1550s, thousands of madrigals were composed in Italy. Philippe de Monte was perhaps the most prolific of all madrigal composers. Composer Orlando Lassus left Italy and brought the madrigal form to Munich.

1548-1611 The lifetime of Tomas Luis de Victoria, Spanish composer during the Renaissance who composed mainly sacred music.

1543-1623 The lifetime of William Byrd, leading English composer of the late Renaissance who composed church, secular, consort and keyboard music.

1554-1612 The lifetime of Giovanni Gabrielli, known composer in Venetian high Renaissance music who wrote instrumental and church music.

1563-1626 The lifetime of John Dowland, known for his lute music in Europe and composed beautiful melancholic music.

1570-1610 The last period of madrigals was highlighted by two reforms, madrigals would take on a lighter tone incorporating more whimsy, and madrigals once a small, intimate performance, would be concertized. Known composers were Luca Marenzio, Carlo Gesualdo, and Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi is also known as the transitional figure to the Baroque music era. John Farmer was a popular English madrigal composer.

  • The Differences Between Schools Ars Antiqua and Ars Nova

  • What Is Choral Music?

  • Texture and Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Music

  • Music History: Different Types of Music Over the Centuries

  • Medieval Music Timeline

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Music History

  • The Top Famous Renaissance Composers

  • ‘Panis Angelicus’ Lyrics and Translation

  • Composers and Musicians of the Middle Ages

  • Secular Music During the Middle Ages

  • A Cappella Music

  • The Requiem Mass

  • Types of Operas

  • Types of Musical Texture

  • What Is the Art Song Musical Genre?

  • Classical Music Composer Timeline

The Differences Between Schools Ars Antiqua and Ars Nova

The Differences Between Schools Ars Antiqua and Ars Nova

What Is Choral Music?

What Is Choral Music?

Texture and Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Music

Texture and Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Music

Music History: Different Types of Music Over the Centuries

Music History: Different Types of Music Over the Centuries

Medieval Music Timeline

Medieval Music Timeline

A Beginner’s Guide to Music History

A Beginner’s Guide to Music History

The Top Famous Renaissance Composers

The Top Famous Renaissance Composers

‘Panis Angelicus’ Lyrics and Translation

‘Panis Angelicus’ Lyrics and Translation

Composers and Musicians of the Middle Ages

Composers and Musicians of the Middle Ages

Secular Music During the Middle Ages

Secular Music During the Middle Ages

A Cappella Music

A Cappella Music

The Requiem Mass

The Requiem Mass

Types of Operas

Types of Operas

Types of Musical Texture

Types of Musical Texture

What Is the Art Song Musical Genre?

What Is the Art Song Musical Genre?

Classical Music Composer Timeline

Classical Music Composer Timeline

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

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  • EU Privacy

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies