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: Mixed choir (SABar); instrument ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 422767
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 422587
for: 2 VL VC / 3 VDG
Score
Item no.: 345800
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 354421
for: 8 INST (SSAT ATTB)
Score
Item no.: 371179
for: Flexible ensemble (5 voices)
Score
Item no.: 212827
for: SOLI (TT) 2 FL BC
Score
Item no.: 241838
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 304471
Score
Item no.: 310558
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309769
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309757
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309741
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309716
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309706
for: Mixed choir (SATTB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309636
for: Frauenchor / Männerchor
Score
Item no.: 585670
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 632677
for: Mixed choir (SATB), strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 265566
Score
Item no.: 261798
Score
Item no.: 647264
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1161013
for: Mixed choir, organ
Score
Item no.: 1136701
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1136693
for: Soli [SAATB] and Piano
Score
Item no.: 984054
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 309654
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 309613
for: 15 Brass Instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 966634
for: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (quintet)
Score, Parts, CD
Item no.: 174634
for: 4-Part Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 992514
for: Recorder and Guitar
OTHER
Item no.: 263740
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1001815
for: Vihuela [guitar]
Music score (with TABs)
Item no.: 413225
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 894900
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 864598
Choir score
Item no.: 1625912
for: Chor und Klavier
Choir score
Item no.: 1625861
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1625728
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1626292
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1024911
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Book
Item no.: 993181
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 993169
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Book
Item no.: 992640
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Book
Item no.: 992616
for: SATTB
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1159737
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1157424
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1156227