Interesting Facts about Singing History: The Renaissance Period

by admin | May 2, 2017 | Music History

Interesting Facts about Singing History: The Renaissance Period

The motet was the most preeminent polyphonic forms of music during the Renaissance period. However, this style of vocal composition did not arise during the 1400s to 1600s. It started in medieval times. More specifically, it arose in the thirteenth century. In this century, a theorist called Johannes de Grocheo explained that commoners could not enjoy motet since they could not understand its subtlety. Therefore, those who appreciated these vocal compositions were mostly elite members of society.

The Unification of Musical Language during the Renaissance Period

Unlike the motet of the medieval period, Renaissance music was more vocal and instrumental. In fact, songs had an increased number of independent lines playing simultaneously than they previously had. These advancements facilitated the rise in the quality and quantity of vocal compositions. Such changes were possible because of a unified musical language spurred by socioeconomic changes in Europe. These changes included the rise of humanistic thoughts, the rise of a bourgeois class, and commercial growth.

Vocal Compositions and the Use of Instruments during Renaissance Period

The human voice was the primary tool used in the production of music during medieval times. Instruments were merely accompaniments that colored the human voice. However, things started changing during the Renaissance Period. Instruments such as flute, violins, flutes, and keyboards acquired a new status. Significant modifications of these instruments also took place. It is also important to note that the number of composers and their professionalism increased significantly during this period. It did so because of modified instruments and advanced technologies such as the invention of the printing press in the 1400s.

The Emergence of the Madrigal

The madrigal was a vocal composition where the number of voices varied from two to about eight. In most cases, a madrigal had three to six voices. It was different from strophic songs at the time. These songs had repetitive choruses, but the madrigal was non-repetitive. To put it differently, its arrangement was linear and uninterrupted by dialogue. Madrigals emerged in Italy in the 1520s. The focus of these pieces was to express emotion in each line of a famous poem. It is important to note that the madrigal was the most distinct type of secular music during the Renaissance period. It ushered in a new era in singing history where secular compositions achieved prominence and became acceptable in society.

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Interesting Facts on Violin History: The Renaissance Period

by admin | Apr 26, 2017 | Music History

Home > Violin Lessons > Blog

Interesting Facts on Violin History: The Renaissance Period

Paintings by Gaudenzio Ferrari show that early violins had only 3 strings. According to Ferrari’s paintings, the first violins had a bulging front and back plates and f-holes with side pegs, which hold the strings. Compared to the modern instrument, the early violins had more exaggerated looks and the three strings. Although the makers of these first instruments are unknown, it is strongly believed they were made in Italy where they gained popularity and especially among street musicians and nobles of the 16 century. Here are some interesting facts on violin history.

Violins Made By Early Violin Makers Are Worth Millions

As the popularity of the violin increased, so did the makers of the instrument. The first violin is believed to have been made by the Amati family around 1500. The production of violins reached its peak in the 16th century with the most notable makers being the Stradivari family and Guarneri. The two violinmakers learned this type of artisanship from the Amati family. Their instruments are considered the best-made violins up to date and are highly sort by violinists from around the world. These instruments also cost a fortune, with “the Hammer” by Stradivari sold $3.6 million in 2006.

The Role of the Violin during the Renaissance Period

Musicians used the violin as a dance & vocal accompaniment. By the 17th century, musicians started incorporating the instrument to instrumental ensembles where it always stood out above other instruments making it the most appropriate for playing melody lines. Since the 17th century, experienced violinists have always amazed their audience with the instruments’ virtuosity.

The Violin and Its Legacy

The violin is considered more of an expressive instrument that is close to the human voice. Known violinists of all time have included this instrument in violin concertos and violin sonata repertories. The violin use was popular in the early days of dance orchestras having 2 to 3 violins while the high-class orchestras would have at least 6-7 violins.

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Interesting Facts about Piano History: The Renaissance Period

by admin | Apr 25, 2017 | Music History

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Interesting Facts about Piano History: The Renaissance Period

Piano history dates as far back as ancient Biblical times where the earliest piano was mentioned in the Book of Genesis. It was a harp. However, the first instrument in piano history that had a keyboard like features was the Hyrdaulis. It was first made in Greece in 220 B.C, and by the second century AD, it had gained popularity in the Roman Empire and Greece. This early keyboard was played using knees, feet, hands, and wrists. Unlike the modern day twelve-tone chromatic scale, the early keyboard used the diatonic scales (GABCDEF) up to the 13th century. It is from the technology of the early keyboard that the modern piano was developed.

There Were Varied Keyboard Types In the 14th And 15th Centuries

The 14th and 15th centuries marked the development of various types of keyboard stringed instruments. Some were plucked including the harpsichord, the virginal, and the spinet while others such as the clavichord, checker, and Dulce Melos had hammers.

The Harpsichord and the Clavichord Are the Earliest Modern Pianos

These two looked almost the same as the modern day piano with the only difference being the sound produced by each. The harpsichords’ strings were plucked using quills while tangents struck those of the clavichords. In the harpsichord, it was hard for the musician to control the dynamics of the notes and hence unable to evoke emotions. The clavichords, on the other hand, helped solve this shortcoming by allowing the strings to vibrate as long as the key was pressed.

The Modern Piano Was Invented Around 1698 Or 1700

The piano, invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Padua who was an expert in making the harpsichord, was different from the modern piano in that the blacks were natural while the whites’ keys served as the accidentals. This layout was later changed following the suggestion of Sebastian LeBlanc. Since the piano allowed playing of more than one key at once, they became quite popular especially during the emergence of polyphonic music.

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For more questions, contact us at info@willanacademy.com or 646-838-3990. Willan Academy of Music offers violin lessons, guitar lessons, and more in NYC, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Willan Academy of Music

Office:
244 Madison Avenue Suite 171
New York, NY 10016

Phone: 646-838-3990
E-mail: info@willanacademy.com