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: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1060652
for: 3-Part Mixed Choir a Cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 910005
1608
Tower Music 10
for: Trompeten (3), Posaunen (3)
Set of parts
Item no.: 1534997
Consortium
for: 5 INST
Set of parts
Item no.: 455599
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 217928
für 4 Trompeten, Horn, 4 Posaunen und Tuba
Posaune 2
for: KAMMERMUSIK BLECHBLASINSTRUMENTE NONETTE UND MEHR
Item no.: 1616097
6st gemischter Chor(latein/deutsch)
Item no.: 119544
10 Blechblasinstrumente
Item no.: 1616635
for: 3 Trombones and Bass Trombone
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829511
Trombone Repertoire
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1349078
Der Blaeserchor 10
for: 4 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 413799
for: Blechbläserquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996441
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996257
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996210
The Art Of The Netherlanders 10
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 194762
for: CHORMUSIK GEMISCHTER CHOR MIT BEGLEITUNG WELTLICH ALBEN
Score
Item no.: 119740
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 835093
for: 4 voices
Music score
Item no.: 777294
for: 4 recorders [4 viole da gamba]
Score
Item no.: 274072
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 442971
for: 6 voices
Score
Item no.: 629787
for: 4 viole da gamba
Score
Item no.: 781062
for: 12 Brass Instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 966329
for: 4 voices (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 1652565
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1060905
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1136667
for: 2 Mixed Choirs [SSAATTBB] and Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 989381
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949534
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 315918
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1001616
for: SSAAT
Choir score
Item no.: 1002584
for: Choir
Buch
Item no.: 934806
for: Brass ensemble (12 parts)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1678621
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 878500
for: Chamber ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 992391
for: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 867316
for: 5 brass winds
Score
Item no.: 925574
for: Brass ensemble (15 parts)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 805766
for: Instrumental
Buch
Item no.: 1152957
for: Instrumental
Buch
Item no.: 1157915
for: Choir
Set of parts
Item no.: 1156554
for: 4 Guitars
Book
Item no.: 819730
for: Voice (high)
Book
Item no.: 818511
for: Guitar
Score
Item no.: 238685
for: SAATB and Organ
Choir score
Item no.: 865581
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 727463
Heitere Fantasie
for: gemischter Chor (SSATB) mit Streichern
Einzelstimme Violine III / Alt
Item no.: 743722