Renaissance Era: continued

In order to understand how music grew during this time period, it’s important to understand the role of the Church in European life.  The church not only had a larger role of maintaining a “closed” system of monasteries and cloisters where scholars wrote treatises and musicians composed formal sacred music, but also had outreach into the local congregation.  Local priests and churches often played a large role in the life of the average citizen.  However, as the Renaissance era went on, the trained musicians of the church were no longer the only trained musicians in society. In accordance with the ancient Greek traditions, education in musical arts was considered part of being a well-rounded and fully educated person. 

Following this tradition, a school of composers mastered the art of polyphony, incorporating it into their own versions of sacred music.

 

Listen to the following example:

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