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.
O how fair are all thy dwellings
for: Basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 231722
bearbeitet von Johann Sebastian Bach
for: Mixed choir (SSATTB), orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234264
for: Singstimme (T), Violine, Violoncello / Bass-Gambe, Basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229675
for: Violin
Single part Violin
Item no.: 229674
für Streichquartett oder Streichorchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 383960
for: school orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 734823
sopra li tuoni a quattro
for: Tasteninstrument oder beliebige Einzelinstrumente
Single part bass
Item no.: 781614
Teil I
Consortium
for: Mixed ensemble (6 voices)
Single part 5 (C)
Item no.: 691033
Nos. II (dorian), III (dorian) et V (dorian)
for: beliebige Instrumente (3 Violen und Basso continuo; Violine, 2 Violen und Violoncello; 4 Gamben; 4 Posaunen; Trompete (C) und 3 Posaunen)
Single part Cello
Item no.: 783787
a quattro Nos. VI e VII
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 749607
for: 5 recorders (SSATB)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 796173
for: für Sopran,Streicher und Orgel Kontrabass
Single part
Item no.: 1135484
Motet a 12
aus den "Symphoniae sacrae"
for: Mixed choir, wind ensembles, organ
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 1355097
II
Branlen zu vier Stimmen (1583) II
Consortium
for: Bass recorder
Single part(n)
Item no.: 261074
Motette a 15
for: Organ
Single part Organ
Item no.: 421642
Motette a 15
for: POS 2 (VC 1)
Single part(n)
Item no.: 421640
for: school orchestra
Single part Percussion
Item no.: 354737
for five recorders (SATTB)
Tenorblockflöte I
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part tenor recorder 1
Item no.: 355288
Vier Tänze nach Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) von Ralph Paulsen-Bahnsen
Forum Zupfmusik
for: Mandolin orchestra
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 339820
aus: Symphoniae Sacrae I
SWV 269
for: Voice (bass), 4 trombones [2 violins, 2 trombones], basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479685
Marienvesper SV 206
Urtext
for: 7 soloists (SSATTBB), mixed choir (SSATTB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 676269
Psalmen Davids 1619, op. 2/4 (SWV 25)
Psalm-Konzert für zwei Favorit-Chöre (SATB/SATB) und Basso continuo
Urtext Stuttgarter Schütz-Ausgabe
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo; 8 instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 685652
aus dem "Lustgarten"
Hortus Musicus
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 428965
for: Singstimme (T), Violine, Violoncello / Bass-Gambe, Basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 229676
freie Umarbeitung von Schütz' Motette "O süßer Jesu Christ" SWV 427 zum solistischen Vokalkonzert
for: Basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 232164
Mehrfaches latenisches Konzert
Komposition von Anon., durch Bruno Grusnick Schütz zugewiesen
for: Favorit choir (SSATB), orchestra; chapell choir (SATB) ad lib.
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 232159
Psalm 24
for: Favorit choir (SATB), double bass, organ; 2 chapell choirs (SATB, SATB, SSATTB) ad lib.
Single part Bassoon 2
Item no.: 232122
Geistliches Konzert
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 232108
Geistliches Konzert
for: Violin
Single part Violin
Item no.: 232103
Psalmkonzert
Single part Trombone 2
Item no.: 232060
Psalmkonzert
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 232057
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 232052
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 232019
aus: Geistliche Chormusik
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); instruments colla parte, basso continuo ad lib.
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 231814
aus: Psalmen Davids
Motette
for: Favorit choir (SMezT, SMezAT, AT, ATBarB), chapell choir (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 231756
aus: Psalmen Davids
Motette
for: Favorit choir (SMezT, SMezAT, AT, ATBarB), chapell choir (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 231753
for: Cello
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229832
for: Voice (soprano), 2 violins, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 1161096
Show yourselves joyful to the Lord
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Instrumental part 4 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 1160812
Show yourselves joyful to the Lord
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1160804
aus: Psalmen Davids
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), double bass, organ; 8 instruments colla parte ad lib.
Instrumental part 3 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 1160705
aus: Psalmen Davids
for: Favorit choir (SATB), chapell choir (SATB), double bass, organ [chapell choir satb, 8 melodic instruments]
Instrumental part 2 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 1160688
for: 2 favorit choirs (SSATB, SATB); 5 viole da gamba, double bass, organ ad lib.
Instrumental part 2 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1160681
Lobsinget Gott, dem Herrn
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo; 8 instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 1160669
Blessed are all those who fear God
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); 8 melodic instruments (colla parte), basso continuo ad lib.
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1136836
O how fair are all thy dwellings
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); 8 melodic instruments (colla parte), basso continuo ad lib.
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1136824
For God so loved this sinful world
from: Geistliche Chormusik
for: Mixed choir (SATTB); basso continuo ad lib.
Instrumental part 2 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 1136819
aus: Symphoniae Sacrae III
for: Favorit choir (smezttbarb), orchestra; 2 chapell choirs (SATB, SATB) ad lib.
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 1136814