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.
aus: Psalmen Davids
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), double bass, organ; 8 instruments colla parte ad lib.
Set of parts
Item no.: 231741
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 287193
2 Motetten für den Ostersonntag - für 6 Stimmen (Blockflöten/Gamben)
aus: Songs of Sundrie Natures
Score
Item no.: 559896
for: 5 brass winds
Item no.: 114494
aus `Cancionero de Palacio´
for: 3 voices [melodic instruments]
Score
Item no.: 1015549
Early Music Library 155
for: 5 melodic instruments
5 playing scores
Item no.: 332745
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 623789
for: 2 TRP POS ORG
Item no.: 417730
for: 7 Singstimmen Basso continuo
Stimme, Faksimile
Item no.: 485187
for: Mixed choir (SSATTB) a cappella
Item no.: 362347
A Due Cori 13
for: 10 INST (SSATB ATTBB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 364529
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Item no.: 363558
Early Music Library 92
for: 3 melodic instruments
3 Performance scores
Item no.: 363236
Il Primo Libro Delle Canzoni (1628/1634) 10
for: 4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 350168
for: 4–5 melodic instruments
Score
Item no.: 143083
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 153881
for: 3 Recorders
Buch
Item no.: 1172849
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1172921
on "Parson's Farewell/La Bourree"
Early Music Library 89
for: 5 melodic instruments
5 playing scores
Item no.: 303945
Bam 108
for: Choir (8 voices); 8 instruments colla parte ad lib.
Item no.: 227821
Marienvesper
for: gemischter Chor (SATTB/SATTB), Soli (SSAATTBB) und Orchester
Einzelstimme Flauto II
Item no.: 782285
Nr. 36 aus "Sacrae Cantiones 1565"
for: Mixed choir (SATTBB) [6 solo voices]
Choir score
Item no.: 772835
Nr. 37 aus "Sacrae Cantiones 1565"
for: Mixed choir (SATTBB) [6 solo voices]
Choir score
Item no.: 772836
Bam 107
for: 5 instruments
Item no.: 421050
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Item no.: 226609
for: Mixed choir (SSAATTBB) a cappella
Item no.: 455755
Klassik
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1110296
Harmonia-Men's Choir
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 923840
Harmonia-Womens Choir
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 923996
GIA Ars Antiqua
for: SATB, unison
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1152816
for: 4 beliebige Instrumente (Sopran-, Alt-, Tenor- und Bass-Blockflöte oder Fideln, Violinen, Lauten)
Einzelstimme 3. Stimme, Altschlüssel
Item no.: 752199
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 926054
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 930998
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] A Cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 998631
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089977
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1038785
Heitere Fantasie
for: gemischter Chor (SSATB) mit Streichern
Einzelstimme Violine I / Sopran I
Item no.: 754100
for: school orchestra
Einzelstimme Klarinette II
Item no.: 748699
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 281851
aus: Opella Nova (1618), Teil 1
for: 3 voices (SST), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 464915
for: 4 TRP (+ ORG)
Item no.: 122083
dalla villanella alla cantata
Pian & Forte Vol. 186
for: Voice (tenor), basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1106036
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1109980
for: Recorders [SATB]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1077810
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1175137
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412802
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412525
Geistliches Konzert
for: Basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 232040