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.
Madrigal
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] and Basso Continuo
Book
Item no.: 990302
Geistliches Madrigal
Edition Schultheiss
for: Mixed choir (SATTB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1549912
for: Organ
Music score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 640829
Oster-Oratorium
for: Gamben (2), Viola
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 883289
Motette
for: 1. Trompete, 2. Trompete
Stimme
Item no.: 883640
Nr. 9/10 aus "Sacrae Cantiones 1565"
for: Mixed choir (SATTBB) [6 solo voices]
Choir score
Item no.: 772804
Geistliche Chor-Music 1648, Nr. 5, SWV 373
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1160950
Der Schwanengesang – No. 9
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1161068
Schwanengesang No. 4
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 1161050
(To Us Is Born Emanuel)
Choir score
Item no.: 1619529
Offertorium am Feste Christi Himmelfahrt, Motette für fünfstimmigen gemischten Chor
Edition Schultheiss
for: Mixed choir (SAATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1549948
for: 3 woodwinds (trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1132204
Chanson
for: Mixed choir (5 parts) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1114986
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 1031844
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] A Cappella
Piano reduction
Item no.: 998528
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Book
Item no.: 993270
Elle Voyant Approcher Son Book
Choir score
Item no.: 992665
for: 4-Part Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 992445
15. Rizzolina a Orazio scolaro suo favorito
for: SSATB Chor
Choir score
Item no.: 1629443
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1175459
Klassik
for: Choir a Cappella
Score
Item no.: 868388
Latin Text
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1193792
Klassik
Choir score
Item no.: 837041
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 960188
To God the Holy Spirit
for: Two or Three part Voices with optional Cello or Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1149620
for: Men's Choir [TB] A Capella
Choir score
Item no.: 960513
Marienvesper
for: gemischter Chor (SATTB/SATTB), Soli (SSAATTBB) und Orchester
Einzelstimme Cornetto I
Item no.: 782286
Madrigali - aus Band 3 der GA
for: für Chor SSATB
Chorpartitur
Item no.: 1134850
Musica religiosa - aus Band 15/1 der GA
for: für Chor STTTB, 2 Violinen und Basso continuo
Chorpartitur
Item no.: 1135308
for: 5 recorders (SSATB)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1544949
for: Men's Voices
Choir score
Item no.: 818601
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Score
Item no.: 180603
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 194559
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Item no.: 455712
A Due Cori 5
for: 8 GES (INST) (SSAT ATTB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 297462
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Item no.: 292522
(Urtext)
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 224807
Early Music Library 306
for: 3 voices [melodic instruments]
3 single parts
Item no.: 311727
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309740
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 309738
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309728
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309717
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309705
Wiener Edition Alter Musik
for: INST (2-9)
Score
Item no.: 310556
German Instrumental Music 12
Item no.: 618579
Bremer Chorblaetter 261
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 327374
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 582207
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