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.
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Mixed choir (SSAATTBB) a cappella
Study score
Item no.: 749269
aus "Der Fluyten Lust-Hof"
for: Descant recorder
Sheet music
Item no.: 2923
for: Choral
Item no.: 1378029
aus: Il primo libro della musica a due voci, Mailand 1548
eingerichtet für 2 Blockflöten
for: 2 recorders (AT)
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 6371
Motet
for: Singstimme und Klavier (Cembalo/Orgel)
Music score
Item no.: 748680
Schott Student Edition - Repertoire
for: Treble recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 743442
aus: "Sacrae Cantionies Quinis Vocibus Concinendae..."
Venezia, 1605
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 4266
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2649
aus: Ricercate, Passaggi et Cadentie per potersi essercitar nel diminuir terminatamente con ogni sorte d'Istrumento
Venedig 1585
for: Violin [cornett]
Sheet music
Item no.: 6323
8 Magnificat Cycles - 2 Chorale Fantasias
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 759765
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 2497
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1383729
aus: "Il quarto libro de varie sonate, sinfonie, gagliarde, corrente, e brandi"
Venedig, 1626
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4746
3 Chorale Fantasias, Chorale Variation, 6 Hymn Settings
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 737178
from "Lachrimae, or seaven teares figured in seaven passionate pavans ..."
arranged for recorder quintet
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3300
aus "Der Fluyten Lust-Hof", 2. Teil (1646)
for: Descant recorder
Sheet music
Item no.: 1220
eingerichtet für acht Blockflöten
for: 8 recorders (SSAATTBB)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1925
aus "Der Fluyten Lust-Hof"
for: Descant recorder
Sheet music
Item no.: 2213
aus: "L’Orfeo" (1609)
eingerichtet für Blockflötenquintett und Basso continuo ad lib.
for: 5 recorders (SSATB); basso continuo ad lib.
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3156
aus: "Tratado de glosas ...", Rom 1553
eingerichtet für Blockflötenquartett
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3340
aus: Ghirlanda Sacra
Venedig 1625
for: Voice (high), basso continuo
Score, choir scores, single parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6473
SWV 372, aus: Geistliche Chor-Music
Dresden 1648
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), basso continuo; 5 melodic instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6379
10 Kyrie Cycles - Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus - 4 Sequentia Cycles - Psalm 113 - Magnificat germanice
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 726694
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 2961
aus "Il sesto libro de madrigali" (1615)
for: 5 recorders (AATTB)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1072
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1582301
Madrigal
aus A. Parisottis "Arie antiche"
for: Voice (low), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2215
aus: Ricercate, Passaggi et Cadentie per potersi essercitar nel diminuir terminatamente con ogni sorte d'Istrumento
Venedig 1585
for: Violin [cornett]
Sheet music
Item no.: 6322
Edition Schott
for: 3 recorders (SAT)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 756463
F
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612452
G
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1027471
aus: "The First Set of English Madrigals to 3. 4. 5. and 6. voices"
London, 1598
for: Women's choir (SSA) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 4610
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 722485
from "The Second Booke of Songes or Ayres of foure partes with Tableture for the Lute", 1600
for: Mixed choir (SATB), lute [harpsichord]
Score
Item no.: 3335
C
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589473
G
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1543768
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 722487
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 3510
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
for: gemischter Chor (SATB) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 757392
Eb
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589566
F
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612799
aus: "The First Set of English Madrigals"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 3259
Anthem
for: gemischter Chor (SAATB) und Orgel
Score
Item no.: 782090
for: Piano, Voice, Low Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1565384
D
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1565383
Eb
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589597
for: gemischter Chor (SATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 732609
Em
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1554125