Sacred Music in the Age of Rebirth Essay - 1251 Words

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 â€Å"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 â€Å"revolt of the Medievalists.† In an effort of â€Å"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†¦show more content†¦In the Western world, it is clear that the changes that occurred in music over time were slow and organic. For the first three Christian centuries it seems that there was â€Å"no sign ificant evolution from a simple to a more complex musical style.† The first extraordinary development of music occurred in the late sixth and early seventh centuries with Pope St. Gregory the Great. His implementation of what became known as Gregorian Chant would be â€Å"a source and inspiration of a large proportion of all Western music up to the sixteenth century.† The Renaissance marks the next remarkable period of musical history, with unprecedented abruptness and degree of change. Secular music did not begin to take form as truly peculiar and distinct until the Middle Ages; and the unique and diverse nature of secular music was not fully realized until the Renaissance. In the early Christian centuries (up to about 600AD), secular music, as understood in a modern sense, simply did not exist. Undoubtedly, people sang and played their own music outside of the Church, but â€Å"what it was that they sang and played we do not know, for no record of it survives.† The earliest preserved fragments of secular music are Latin texts which date back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Secular music used the same principles as sacred music, and even used the ecclesial language. This shows how blurred the line was between secular and sacred music up until the Middle Ages. AsShow MoreRelatedThe Renaissance : An Era Of Rebirth And Reformation1171 Words   |  5 PagesThe Renaissance was an era of rebirth and reformation, which brought about awareness of various c ultures. It was a period of intellectual improvement because there was a new enthusiasm for learning. Also, there was an increasing focus in humanism, which emphasized the importance of individualization. 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