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: 6 soloists (SSATTB), 3 mixed choirs (SATB, SSAT, ATBarB), instruments colla parte, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 424693
for: Basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 229783
for: 2 mixed choirs, wind ensemble, organ
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 1355112
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 236110
for: Voice, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649216
German Magnificat
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Instrumental part 2 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 677215
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229780
for: 2 mixed choirs, wind ensemble, organ
Single part Trumpet 2
Item no.: 1355117
for: Voice (soprano), string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649272
for: Voice (soprano), string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649271
for: Double bass
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 684085
for: 6 soloists (SSATTB), 3 mixed choirs (SATB, SSAT, ATBarB), instruments colla parte, basso continuo
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 424737
German Magnificat
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 677214
for: 2 mixed choirs, wind ensemble, organ
Single part Trombone 2
Item no.: 1355109
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632126
German Magnificat
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 677210
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Favorit choir (SATB), double chapell choirs (ATB/SATB), orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 232094
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236104
for: 6 soloists (SSATTB), 3 mixed choirs (SATB, SSAT, ATBarB), instruments colla parte, basso continuo
Single part Organ
Item no.: 424493
for: Voice (soprano), string orchestra
Single part voice
Item no.: 649263
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632125
German Magnificat
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Instrumental part 4 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 677217
German Magnificat
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Instrumental part 4 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 677213
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Favorit choir (SATB), double chapell choirs (ATB/SATB), orchestra
Single part Trombone 2
Item no.: 232092
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Favorit choir (SATB), double chapell choirs (ATB/SATB), orchestra
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 232091
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236105
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229782
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Favorit choir (SATB), double chapell choirs (ATB/SATB), orchestra
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 232095
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Favorit choir (SATB), double chapell choirs (ATB/SATB), orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 232089
aus: Selva morale et spirituale
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236107
for: 2 mixed choirs, wind ensemble, organ
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 1355110
Book
Item no.: 779520
Music lesson book
Item no.: 781209
for: 2 guitars
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 775846
for: Organ
Study book
Item no.: 312081
for: 1–2 voices, piano
Music lesson book
Item no.: 195189
Music lesson book
Item no.: 351585
for: Flute [violin]
Music lesson book
Item no.: 195188
Le Nuove Musiche (1602)
Nuove Musiche e nouva maniera di scriverle (1614)
Music lesson book
Item no.: 1031316
Music lesson book
Item no.: 636702
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 730970
Book
Item no.: 774801
Zur Kompositionslehre der Klassischen Vokalpolyphonie
Studien zur Geschichte der Musiktheorie 7
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 583450
for: Voice (melody instrument]
Music lesson book
Item no.: 1018146
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 733626
Book
Item no.: 780894