RENAISSANCE MUSIC
1400-1600

Renaissance music gradually came to rely more on consonance than elaborate polyphony, enjoying the concordance of thirds and fifths, and thus carrying music into the tonal era.

Masses and motets were composed for voices in churches and cathedrals.  Of secular song structures the madrigal was prominent, and composers such as Byrd and Dowland in Britain, or Gabrieli and Gesualdo in Italy, generally produced music for both contexts.

Instrumental music was in the structure of a dance suite - often including a basse dance, pavane and galliard - or a consort.

A pair of shawms

A tabor and pipe

Renaissance song

The two songs featured here can be found on the V&A's website at www.vam.ac.uk

​The music for O Rosa bella was written around 1400 by Johannes Ciconia, a Franco-Flemish composer, who worked mainly in Italy. The original singers were probably soloists from the court chapel or cathedral choir. In this recording the piece is performed with two male voices accompanied by a lute. This recording was made by the Royal College of Music especially for the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries thanks to an award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Fine Knacks for Ladies is a madrigal - a poetic song. In it the singer presents himself as a humble pedlar. In the 16th century pedlars travelled from town to town selling combs, ribbons, knives, and other small objects, the 'knacks' of the title. This pedlar sings in elegant language that reflects his status as an educated member of court circles. Through the words to the song he argues eloquently that although his wares might seem superficially precious, they're worthless compared to the honesty and loyalty of his heart.
The piece was written in about 1600 by John Dowland, one of the most famous English composers of his day. He was known for his witty songs that could be performed with a variety of different voices and instruments. This one is performed to the accompaniment of a lute

fine-knacks-for-ladies.mp3
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​Renaissance instruments

The crumhorn was the most important double reed wind cap instrument in the sixteenth and early seventeenth century.  

A collection of crumhorns

The hurdy-gurdy - a stringed instrument that produces sound by a hand crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. was also very popular (along with the bagpipe); the characteristic form had a short neck and a boxy body with a curved tail end.

A modern hurdy-gurdy