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.
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 366327
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 240024
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 240001
for: 3 soloists (SSB), mixed choir (SATB), cornett, 3 trombones, strings, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5847
für vier Blockflöten (SATB)
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 662474
for: 2 lutes
Ensemble score
Item no.: 929903
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1813
for: 2 voices (medium) [choir (2 parts)]
Score
Item no.: 1725
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3388
for: 2 trumpets (C/B-flat), horn (F), 2 trombones (quintet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3136
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3540
for: SSA [Women or Children], opt. Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1095027
Die Tabulatur, Heft 5
Ausgewählte Werke in ihrer Originalnotation mit Übertragungen für Laute und Gitarre
for: Guitar [lute]
Music score (with TABs)
Item no.: 138250
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 760723
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413626
Zeitschrift für Spielmusik
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 182134
Recorders Library
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 762421
for: 5 recorders (SAATB)
5 playing scores
Item no.: 624660
for: Sopran-Blockflöten (2), Alt-Blockflöte, Tenor-Blockflöte, Bass-Blockflöte, Basso continuo ad libitum
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 117162
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 429783
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 257737
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 355758
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355306
for: 2 recorders (SA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 675103
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 5431
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 1209668
for: 2 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 214440
for: Cello, guitar
Score, part
Item no.: 198009
for: Voice, harpsichord [piano]
Songbook
Item no.: 258415
for: 4 trumpets, horn, 4 trombones, tuba
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 279950
for: Klavier (Orgel, Cembalo)
Item no.: 352433
for: Organ [harmonium/piano]
Music score
Item no.: 299344
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 337785
A selection for Alto Recorder
for: Treble recorder
Music score
Item no.: 278839
for: 1–4 flutes
Music score (piano accompaniment)
Item no.: 691603
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1379434
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 678504
for: Choir
Buch + CD
Item no.: 638732
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, CD (with parts to print yourself)
Item no.: 682186
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 240025
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 240002
for: Descant recorder
Sheet music
Item no.: 2923
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Mixed choir (SSAATTBB) a cappella
Study score
Item no.: 749269
with an accompanying part for bass viol
for: 1–2 viole da gamba
Music score
Item no.: 767946
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE BLOCKFLÖTE OHNE TASTENINSTRUMENT AA
Item no.: 181735
for: 4-5 Instrumente, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 234145
Fantasias and Selected Works
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 686617
Set of parts
Item no.: 1204133