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.
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Favorit choir (SATB), double chapell choirs (ATB/SATB), orchestra
Choir score
Item no.: 232087
For God so loved this sinful world
from: Geistliche Chormusik
for: Mixed choir (SATTB); basso continuo ad lib.
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 231824
Historia der freuden- und gnadenreichen Geburt Gottes und Marien Sohnes Jesu Christi
Weihnachtshistorie
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Download (Audio)
Item no.: 1355821
Cantus Ecclesiae 364
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 314055
for: SAX ENSEMBLE (AAAATTBARBAR)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 326011
Klassik
for: Choir a Cappella
Score
Item no.: 851588
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309594
for: BFL ENSEMBLE (SATTTBB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 376776
A Due Cori 58
for: 9 GES (INST) (SSAT SATTB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 371269
Historia der freuden- und gnadenreichen Geburt Gottes und Marien Sohnes Jesu Christi
Weihnachtshistorie
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Download (Audio)
Item no.: 1355822
Weltlich
for: Women's choir (SSAA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1551329
Christmas Carol for S.A.T.B., A Cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1626291
Dialog und Verkündigung
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 229805
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Chor 2, Instrument 3
Item no.: 661215
for: Mixed choir (SSAATB) a cappella
Piano reduction
Item no.: 576327
Let praise sound from heav'n on high
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Piano score
Item no.: 381087
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309601
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 204389
Dans une Etable Obscure
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1090074
Nun ist es Zeit, zu singen hell
for: Frauenchor (SMezA/SSAA)
Choir score
Item no.: 751695
Praetorius: Gott, heilger Schöpfer aller Stern - Vittoria: Ave Maria - Vulpius: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland - Bonitz: O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf
Edition Schultheiss
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 293271
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 455677
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 445745
per quattro cori
Chorpartitur für Chöre I und II
for: 6 soloists (SSATTB), 3 mixed choirs (SATB, SSAT, ATBarB), instruments colla parte, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 424691
Single part Organ
Item no.: 293448
Instrumental Accompaniment Set
Set of parts
Item no.: 1058766
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 892559
German Magnificat
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 232151
aus: Selva morale et spirituale
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 236103
Geistliches Konzert
Hoch rühmt und ehrt meine Seele Gott den Herrn
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Chor 2, Instrument 4
Item no.: 661216
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309686
for: Mixed choir (SATTB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 309653
for: GCH (ST)
Score
Item no.: 309602
El Niño Dios
Altspanisch – Villancico
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1014482
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Item no.: 128769
for: 8 BFL (SATB SATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 367224
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Item no.: 377364
Chorsaetze Alter Meister 161
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Item no.: 373910
per quattro cori
zwei Posaunenstimmen (Tenore Coro III und Tenore Coro IV)
for: 6 soloists (SSATTB), 3 mixed choirs (SATB, SSAT, ATBarB), instruments colla parte, basso continuo
2 single parts
Item no.: 424808
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 278537
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 388021
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 378048
Dialog und Verkündigung
Set of parts
Item no.: 229806
für 4-stimmigen gemischten Chor
Das Musikblatt
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 388077
Paperback
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628230
Cantique de la Vierge Marie pour solistes (D, D, HC, T, B), chœur à 4 voix (D, HC, T, B), flûtes, cordes à 4 parties (Dvn, Hcvn, Tvn, Bvn) et basse continue.
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), instruments
Score
Item no.: 668224
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 923530
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 146210