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: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 332575
for: Choral
Item no.: 1374183
for: Choral
Item no.: 1375469
Motette
aus "Israelsbrünnlein"
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), basso continuo
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1670424
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1668778
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1038721
Together We Sing Series
for: 3-Part Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1656028
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1008805
aus den "Sacrae Symphoniae" (Venedig 1597)
für zwei Blechbläser Instrumentalchöre
Die Musizierstunde-Ensemble Time MZ 84
for: Flexible brass ensemble (8 parts)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 1681564
for: Brass Ensemble and Percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1530982
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039293
Hinshaw Concert
for: SA or TB, a Cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1057222
Time for Brass
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1557270
Fantasien/Pavanen/Gaillarden zu vier Stimmen (1571)
Consortium
for: 4 melodic instruments (SATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 186049
for: 3 recorders
Item no.: 183407
for: 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones and Horn
Buch
Item no.: 560035
Übersetzung der Ausgabe Valladolid 1565
for: Clavichord
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 408291
für Blechbläsertrio
Die Musizierstunde Band 120
for: Trumpet, horn, trombone
Score, Parts
Item no.: 334616
for: 2–4 melodic instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 609174
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones (quartet), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 137362
for: 3 recorders (SAT)
Item no.: 147413
GALLICAM FUER 2 TRP, HRN,
POS, TUBA, PART. UND STIMMEN
for: KAMMERMUSIK BLECHBLASINSTRUMENTE QUINTETTE
Item no.: 133552
Motette Nr. 18 aus "Geistliche Chor-Music"
for: Mixed choir; basso continuo ad lib.
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 633687
for: Recorder
Item no.: 419828
(SSATB), Partitur
Item no.: 119543
for: Recorder
Item no.: 413771
for: STR BL
Ensemble score
Item no.: 413563
Original 1 Ton tiefer
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 312510
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041486
for: Mixed choir (SSATTB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 607220
Motette
Nr. 9 aus "Geistliche Chormusik" (1648)
for: Gemischter Chor: SSATB, Basso continuo ad libitum
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1652984
Edizione In Partitura
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 564694
Musik Fuer Blechblaeser 16
for: 4 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 193081
Thesaurus Musicus 37
for: 5 GES (INST) (SATTB)
5 Partituren
Item no.: 346655
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Item no.: 342173
2 Melodieinstrumente, Partitur (dt)
for: CHORMUSIK GEMISCHTER CHOR MIT BEGLEITUNG GEISTLICH ALBEN
Item no.: 119407
Blaeserchor 14
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 167786
Early Music Library 147
for: 5 PART
Item no.: 272436
Die deutsche Passion (1568)
In einer Neufassung von Ralf Kotz
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo; instruments colla parte ad lib.
Choir part Tenor
Item no.: 1654517
Hinshaw Sacred
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1057041
Palestrina bis Berlioz
for: Harmonium
Music score
Item no.: 657346
Reprint der 1. Auflage [1937] (Sammelband, Reprint) (Collection, Reprint)
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 114924
Helbling Choral Concert Series
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Item no.: 348107
Musica bremensis - bremische Stadt- und Ratsmusiken
(1651)
for: 2 violins [flutes/oboes], basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 637190
Choralsingbook mit Texten vun Martin Luther in plattdüütsche Riemels
for: Voice, guitar [keyboard/accordion/piano]
Songbook (melody, chords, lyrics)
Item no.: 673080
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE LAUTE LAUTE SOLO
Item no.: 392985
Complete recording, Vol. 20
2 CDs (without sheet music)
Item no.: 687606
Motetten
Audio-CD
Item no.: 1665365