The Renaissance saw the musical shackles of the Medieval Period being broken, and both secular and sacred music became livelier and more expressive, and through the developments of printed music, more widely available. Browse our sheet music and scores, and pick up a mass or a madrigal today!
The driving force of the Renaissance was humanism (from the Latin “hummanus” or human), the dogmas of the church were overturned by science, and art was inspired by antiquity and a new, harmonious worldview. Vocal polyphony was very much at the forefront of Renaissance music, and a desire for perfect form, and rational, logical sophistication emerged. In church music, the cyclic form of the Mass, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei was still widely deployed, and musical settings of Motets, Litanies, Psalms and Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis broadened the congregation’s musical experience. Secular vocal music also developed through the madrigals, and polyphonic and unison songs.
In contrast to the Medieval Period, the Renaissance began with a new design principle, imitation. A short, lively theme moves from voice to voice, and the composer creates a counter-melody to compliment it. Elements from the Medieval however were still present, and the “cantus firmus” or fixed chant was often a device of choice in the Renaissance. The cantus firmus takes a theme from Gregorian Chant or Folk Music, but the composer uses augmentation, elongates the note values, and uses the cantus firmus as the harmonic basis for this polyphonic work. From here, the canon soon evolved, which was the clear precursor to the baroque fugue.
The Renaissance marked a big step in the development of instrumental music, and a significant move towards independence for solo instruments, and chamber groups. Traditionally instruments were used as accompaniment for choir or solo singing or for dance music, but through the Renaissance Period, pure instrumental solo or ensemble music became more and more popular. In particular, Renaissance Organ Music experienced a great boom due to the technical development of the instrument, and it was during the 16th century that more vocal instrumental music started emerging, and the first works featuring basso continuo were written.
Score
Item no.: 549793
Score
Item no.: 495383
for: Voice (mezzo-soprano), 4 viole da gamba
Score
Item no.: 478110
for: Mixed choir (SSATTB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 607254
for: 3 wind instruments (trio)
Score
Item no.: 662473
for: GCH (SSATTB) 2 VL 3 POS BC
Score
Item no.: 620232
for: Voice (high), 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 778365
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 644058
for: Mixed choir (SAATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 643889
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 641394
for: Chor SSAT/ATTB, [Kontrabass, Orgel]
Score
Item no.: 232171
for: Frauenchor (SA) / gemischter Chor (SATB), Orgel
Score
Item no.: 232153
for: Gemischter Chor (Favoritchor SSABar / Favoritchor SATB), Kontrabass, Orgel
Score
Item no.: 232036
for: Gemischter Chor (Favoritchor SSATB), 2 Violinen, Fagott, Kontrabass, Orgel, [4 Instr. colla parte]
Score
Item no.: 231954
for: Favorit choir (SATB), chapell choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 231910
for: Mixed choir (SSTT), 2 violins, contrabass, organ
Score
Item no.: 231903
for: Gemischter Chor (Favoritchor ATB), 2 Violinen, [Instr. colla parte SATB, 4 Instr], Kontrabass / Orgel
Score
Item no.: 231865
for: Singstimme (B), 2 Blockflöten, [2 Violinen], Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 231785
for: Favorit choir (SATB), chapell choir (SATB), double bass, organ [chapell choir satb, 8 melodic instruments]
Score
Item no.: 231726
Score
Item no.: 446201
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 345192
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 119402
for: 4 voices [4 melodic instruments]
Score
Item no.: 166270
for: 4 melodic instruments
Score
Item no.: 187633
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 131352
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 582224
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 497670
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 975949
for: Women's choir (SSAA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 867827
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 863446
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 867989
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 322166
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 880369
for: Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 975586
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 975310
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 208238
for: 5 recorders (SSATB)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5864
for: 2 recorders (AT)
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 5842
for: Mixed choir (SSAB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 5803
for: Mixed choir (SATBarB) a cappella
Sheet music
Item no.: 5768
for: Organ (manuals) [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5650
for: Treble recorder
Sheet music
Item no.: 6614
for: Mixed choir (SAB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 6475
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 6350
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6147
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 6139
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4907
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); 8 melodic instruments (colla parte), basso continuo ad lib.
Score, 2 choir scores, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4884
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