Page 52 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

50 SIMPLIFICATION OF POLYPHONY

Musical textures
Degrees of
complexity
Renaissance
composers, aided
by more precise
notation methods
and encouraged
by wealthy
patrons, produced Monophony Homophony Polyphony
increasingly Sung by a single singer Melody supported by chordal Several parts, which are
multilayered music. or single choir in unison. harmony and solid bass in the independent and of equal
Examples include plainchant same rhythm. Often used in importance. Forms include the
and most troubadour songs. the singing of hymns. canon, fugue, and motet.

harder by writing canonic voices clear that reconciliation between with polyphony and with organ,
that moved at different speeds from Rome and the Reformers would let nothing profane be intermingled,
the original. The tour de force here be impossible. but only hymns and divine praises.”
is Johannes Ockeghem’s Missa Yet the Protestant reforms had Composers needed to respond to
prolationum, in which each of forced the Roman Catholic Church this new directive.
the four movements of the Mass to introduce changes to doctrine
explores a different canonic and practice, which included Enhancing the words
scenario. The interval separating purifying its sacred music. In 1562, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
the voices of the canon becomes a resolution of the Council of Trent had published his first book of
progressively longer in each laid down guidelines for musicians. Masses in 1554 and had returned
consecutive movement This stated: “All things should to Santa Maria Maggiore, where
Josquin Desprez’s Missa indeed be so ordered that the he had first served as a choirboy, as
l’homme armé super voces Masses, whether they be celebrated maestro di cappella (music director)
musicales provides only one with chant or chorally, may reach in 1561. The story runs that he
line of music for an elegant and the ears of listeners and gently anticipated complete papal
varied three-voice setting of the penetrate their hearts, when censure. Fearing the reduction
second repeat of the Agnus Dei. everything is executed clearly and of music in Catholic liturgy to
The result of three voices singing at the right speed. In the case of plainchant alone (a reform a few
polyphony woven from a single those Masses, which are celebrated zealots had called for), he stood
melody sung at different speeds is ready with a Mass in four voices to
extraordinary for its audacity, but demonstrate that polyphony could
the emphasis is not on easily serve the text in a way that would
discernible words. please even the harshest critics.
The Missa Papae Marcelli does
An official response The Renaissance fostered the appear to date from 1562, the
The Catholic Church dealt with the growth of personality, an idea year of the Council’s resolution
mounting crisis precipitated by fundamentally opposed to the concerning music. It is said that
Luther’s reforms with a series selflessness and objectivity the cardinals found this Mass
of meetings to decide what the of the old polyphony. especially pleasing, approval that
official response should be. After Zoë Kendrick gave Palestrina status as the savior
many delays, the Council convened of polyphony. It seems, in fact, that
in the town of Trent in northern Biographer of Palestrina the Mass was probably written for
Italy in 1545. By the time of the Holy Week and complied with Pope
final meeting (1562–1563) overseen Marcellus II’s desire for a restrained
by Pope Pius IV, positions had setting that could be clearly
reached a deadlock, and it was understood in mind.

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