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.
The Souls of the Righteous
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1040382
Four Anonymous Masses
Early English Church Music 22
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 769066
for: SSB
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1040397
A Contemporary Gospelized Hymn Arrangement
for: SATB, Soprano Solo, Tenor Solo
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1159539
for: SST and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039929
for: 5–6 cellos
Set of parts
Item no.: 929655
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1039767
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 667906
for: Trombone Trio
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215004
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1037742
for: Mixed choir (3 voices)
Choir score
Item no.: 850599
Régi mesterek vegyeskarai 3
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 850329
String Ensemble (Tudor Anthems)
for: String orchestra
Book
Item no.: 892807
O schoenestes Kindelein
for: SSB and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041037
for: Women's choir (2 voices) [male choir]
Choir score
Item no.: 850710
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1152621
aus: „Newe deutzsche Lieder … gantz Lieblich zu singen, vnd auff allerley Jnstrumenten zu gebrauchen“
eingerichtet für Blockflötenquartett
Mühlhausen, 1578
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5788
Lamb of God
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1039203
The Angel Said Unto the Shepherds
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1040146
Hinshaw Concert
for: SATB, Keyboard Optional
Choir score
Item no.: 1059025
Partitura a quattro voci distinte in chiavi antiche
for: Chamber ensemble
Score
Item no.: 999264
for: Flexible wind ensemble (4 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1560443
(Transposed Into A Min)
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 881686
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 883166
S.A.B. and Piano
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1626078
for: Posaunenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 973640
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 860787
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1038422
My Fairest, See
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 950758
für Blechbläser zu 6 Stimmen
for: 3 trumpets, 3 trombones; tuba ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1688100
Mass Ordinary
General Use
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Noten
Item no.: 643799
In C Satb/Org (Harm. By Js Bach)
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 867751
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1041858
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 732035
Trwrgesang von der Noth Christi am Oelberg in dem Garten
aus "Trvtz Nachtigal Oder Geistlichs Poetisch Lvst-Waldlein"
for: Voice (low), basso continuo
Sheet music
Item no.: 3007
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1114203
for: Women's choir [male choir] (3 voices)
Choir score
Item no.: 822750
The English Madrigalists 25
for: Mixed choir (3–5 parts) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 771896
for: SSATTB
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1151879
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 859824
for: Women's choir (SSA) [mixed choir (SATB)]
Choir score
Item no.: 850521
for mixed voices
for: Mixed choir (SMezATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 850256
aus: Tutti i Madrigali di Cipriano di Rore a quattro voci, spartiti et accomodati per sonar d'ogni sorte d'Istrumento perfetto
Venedig 1577
eingerichtet für tiefes Blockflötenconsort
for: 4 recorders (ATTB)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6194
(nach Habakuk 2,3)
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725745
Das Chorwerk
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 760359
Musica religiosa - aus Band 15/2 der GA
for: für Chor SSAATTBB (davon ATB auch solistisch) und Basso continuo
Chorpartitur
Item no.: 1135033
aus Band VIII/1,2 Canti guerrieri et amorosi
for: für Chor SATB und Basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 1135379
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: 1. Flöte, 2. Flöte, 1. Zink (3. Zink), 2. Zink (3. Zink), 1. Posaune, 2. Posaune, 3. Posaune, Bass-Posaune (tief)
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 882275