Sacred Music in the Age of Rebirth

The Renaissance has not ceased to be an age of discussion and debate among historians throughout the recent centuries. The vibrant nature of the era marks it as a most fascinating period of history. The Renaissance can be described as an age carrying the essence of “self-discovery and fulfillment, of recognition of human worth, and a dynamic outpouring of artistic activity.” This new world flourishing with art and creative optimism was also steeped in a spirit of “revolt of the Medievalists.” In an effort of “rebirth,” the previous culture of the Middle Ages was rejected, and even scorned. Foundational principles in all fields were overstepped, and old cultural norms were practically obsolete. It was an era whose humanistic philosophy greatly impacted the lens through which man viewed himself and the world.

The spirit of the Renaissance had a profound effect on every field of study and area of life; religion was certainly not excluded. The Catholic Church was brought face-to-face with modern culture, which necessitated important assessment and decision-making to determine an appropriate response. This paper will examine specifically the changes in sacred music in the Renaissance, and consider the Church’s response.

In order to understand the changes which occurred in music and which affected the Liturgy in the Renaissance period, it is necessary to give a brief sketch of music in earlier times. The first notable aspect of Renaissance music and musical thought is the pace at which it developed. This rapidity stands in contrast to all previous music history. The history of Western art music properly begins with the music of the Christian Church at the end of the ancient world (circa 400AD). This was a world in which music alwa...

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...rroneous to say that any sacred composer in the Renaissance was malicious in intent; alternatively, one could say that he had lost sight of the proper vision and function of sacred music in his zeal for ingenuity.

Works Cited

Blume, Friedrich. Renaissance and Baroque Music; a Comprehensive Survey. 1st ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 1967.

Grout, Donald Jay. A History of Western Music. 1st ed. New York: Norton, 1960.

Hayburn, Robert F. Papal Legislation on Sacred Music, 95 A.D. to 1977 A.D. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1979.

Jensen, De Lamar. Renaissance Europe: Age of Recovery and Reconciliation. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath, 1981.

O'Kelly, Bernard. The Renaissance Image of Man and the World. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1966.

Ongaro, Giulio Maria, and David Brinkman. Music of the Renaissance. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2003.