During the Renaissance period, vocal music was more important than instrumental music and a cappella singing was prominent. Religious music, like motets and masses, remained an important genre. Giovanni Palestrina was a highly influential Renaissance composer, known for his religious works. Dancing was a popular pastime and the musical masses followed a standard structure with different pieces for each part of the Catholic service.

1. Popular songs and dances of the Renaissance Period. By: Chyna Wayne Period:1 12-6-09

2. A Cappella This was the golden age of the a cappella style. That means that singers sang without instruments. Vocal music was still more important than instrumental music. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm

3. ReligiousMusic Religious music was still very important. Choral music of the Renaissance was an extension of the Gregorian chant. It was sung a cappella and sung in Latin. Motets were popular during this time. A motet is a polyphonic work with four or five voice parts singing one religious text. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm#A%20Capella:%20The%20Golden%20Age%20of%20Singing

4. Giovanni Palestrina Giovanni Palestrina was one the Renaissance period's most important composers. He was Italian. He wrote mostly religious works. He is considered one of the great masters of Renaissance music. He wrote motets, madrigals, and masses. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm#A%20Capella:%20The%20Golden%20Age%20of%20Singing

5. Musical Mass The musical mass was an important part of the Catholic Church's religious service. Each part of the celebration would have a different musical number. The mass would be sung in Latin. Here is the order in which the music would be performed: Kyrie means God. This is the first piece in a musical mass. Gloria means Glory and follows the Kyrie. Credo means Creed of Belief. It follows the Gloria. Sanctus means Holy. Benedicts means Blessed. DeiAngus Dei means Lamb of God. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm

6. Dances Dancing was a favorite pastime during the Renaissance. Educated people were expected to know how to dance. There were simple dances that were usually danced in chains or circles. There were also more difficult dances that required lots of practice. Dancing encouraged new forms of instrumental compositions. Many songs were written just for dancing. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm

7. Popular Dance moves Here are some popular Renaissance dances: Branle: In this quick French dance the performers swing from side to side. It's preformed in a circle or a chain. Pavane: This was a slow dance in an even meter where couples would walk in pairs. See the picture below. Galliard: This dance follows the Pavane. It's in an odd meter and is lively and complicated. It can also be danced in couples. Allemande :This is a simple dance in an even meter that can be danced in a group moving forward or backward. Daily life in The Renaissance By: Jeffrey l. singman

8. Dancing Dancing was a favorite pastime in the Renaissance. Dancing was an elegant form of exercise and an expected social skill for the noble. There were basically two types of social dances in the Renaissance. The Middle Ages By: H.R. Loyn

9. Dance of Renaissance Dancing in the Renaissance also brought about some new instrumental compositions written primarily for dancing. The dance music of the Renaissance was written for instruments such as the sackbut, lute, viol, pipe and the tabor. Some of the music was still improvised, but a good portion of the dance pieces were published in collections by Pierre Attaingnant. Encyclopedia of the Renaissance By: David Rundle

10. instruments There was a growth in instrumental music, especially the lute and keyboard. The most popular instrument of the Renaissance was the lute. It was during this period that families of instruments started to develop. These families were called consorts. This is where we get the word concert. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm#Instrumental%20Music

11. Work Citied Page Loyn, h r. The middle ages. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print rundle, David. Encyclopedia of the renaissance. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. singman, Jeffrey L. Daily life in Medieval Europe. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htmThe middle ages. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2009. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2009. http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm#A%20Capella:%20The%20Golden%20Age%20of%20Singing N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2009.