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.
The Italian Madrigals 3
for: 4 voices [instruments]
Score
Item no.: 329481
for: 3 melodic instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 585244
Reicercate e Passagi 16
Improvisation and Ornamentation 1580-1630
for: 2 voices (SS), basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 482222
bearbeitet für Streichorchester
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419435
Consort Music
for: 4 viole da gamba
Score, 4 Single part
Item no.: 661036
und drei andere Quartette
Edition Schott
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355306
A selection for Alto Recorder
for: Treble recorder
Music score
Item no.: 278839
für Orgel oder andere Tasteninstrumente
for: Organ [harmonium/piano]
Music score
Item no.: 299344
Just Brass 26
for: 4 trumpets, horn, 4 trombones, tuba
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 279950
Mit der Querflöte durch tausend Jahre Musik
for: 1–4 flutes
Music score (piano accompaniment)
Item no.: 691603
Arie, canzonette e recitativi
for: Voice, harpsichord [piano]
Songbook
Item no.: 258415
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 176256
für 4 Blockflöten (SATB) oder andere Melodieinstrumente
Stimmen als Kopiervorlage
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 413607
Diminutionen über ein Madrigal von G. P. da Palestrina
Das Blockflötenrepertoire
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 159177
Volume 2
12 Pieces for Descant Recorder and Continuo
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 182612
für Altblockflöte solo
Reihe 11: Alte Musik für Blockflöte
for: Treble recorder
Music score
Item no.: 279142
Renaissance Music Prints 8
for: 2 voices [instruments]
Item no.: 478294
MarienvesperSV 206
for: SSAATTTTBB, Orchester
Klavierauszug
Item no.: 289252
Girolamo Frescobaldi Il Primo Libro~Delle Canzoni 1
for: SBFL (VL) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 172215
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 393802
Settings of secular melodies and dances - Works for lute
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck - Opera Omnia (SWE)
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 217025
Easy recorder quartets 1
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 353864
for: 4 voices (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 772911
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 113118
Sämtliche Werke - Viertes Buch
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 299757
Die Tabulatur 7
Ausgewählte Werke in ihrer Originalnotation mit Übertragungen für Laute und Gitarre
for: Lute [guitar]
Music score (with TABs)
Item no.: 216759
Brass Press
for: Trumpet, organ
Item no.: 427862
Masters of the North German School for Organ 21
3 Chorale Fantasias, Chorale Variation, 6 Hymn Settings
for: Organ
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 560137
für Sopranblockflöte (Tenor) und Tasteninstrument
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE BLOCKFLÖTE MIT TASTENINSTRUMENT SOPRAN-BLOCKFLÖTE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 217351
Opera in Three Acts op. 40
Lyric book
Item no.: 1654055
New Josquin Edition 22
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 1669320
With expamples by Giovanni Bassano (1591) – Francesco Rognoni (1620)
for: Bass instrument (C)
Music lesson book
Item no.: 1632375
Ancient to Baroque
Seventh Edition
Book
Item no.: 1677416
Music Sales America
for: Guitar
Music score (anthology), online audio
Item no.: 224103
from: Psalms of David SWV 32, 1619
Scripture: Ps 136
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), double bass, organ; chapell choir 8 instruments colla parte ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 1651793
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1032149
for: Voice, piano
Piano score
Item no.: 1669654
Historia des Leidens und Sterbens unsers Herrn und Heilandes Jesu Christi nach dem Evangelisten St. Lukas
Stuttgarter Schütz–Ausgabe
for: Favorit choir (SATB), mixed choir (SATB)
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 232140
Ancient to Baroque
Seventh Edition
Book
Item no.: 697594
Historia des Leidens und Sterbens unsers Herrn und Heilandes Jesu Christi nach dem Evangelisten Matthäus
Stuttgarter Schütz-Ausgabe
for: Favorit choir (SATB), mixed choir (SATB)
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 232137
Walton Choral
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1677159
A Suite of Five Dances (early 16th Century)
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1001071
for: 5 voices, 5 viole da gamba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1678536
London Brass Ensemble Series
for: 4 trumpets, horn, 4 trombones, tuba, percussion
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 967040
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1651706
from "Musae Sionae IX, 1611"
for: Women's choir (SA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 897150
Short Service
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 883227
Opere complete
Edizione critica in due volumi
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 796965
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