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.
Catch of three Voices, from: Pammelia Musicks Miscellanie or Mixed Varietie Of Pleasant Roundelayes, and delightfull Catches
London, 1609
for: 3 equal voices [women's choir/male choir]
Score
Item no.: 5687
Easy pieces to play together
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 736879
aus: "The First Set of Madrigals and Mottets, apt for Viols and Voyces"
for: Mixed choir (SATTB); basso continuo ad lib.
Score, part (pdf download)
Item no.: 3141
G
for: Piano, Voice, Soprano Voice, Alto Voice
Vocal Duet
Item no.: 1565571
G
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589152
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 722490
Cm
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1478984
D
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612454
Ab
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589492
Am
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1037008
aus: "The First Set of English Madrigals to 3. 4. 5. and 6. voices"
London, 1598
for: Male choir (TTB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 4611
Em
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1034064
E
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1565381
Eb
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1543748
E
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612441
Eb
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589586
E
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612797
aus: "The First Set of English Madrigals to 3. 4. 5. and 6. voices"
London, 1598
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 4612
Cm
for: Piano, Voice, Low Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1553981
Bb
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1036200
C
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1543749
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 732114
Db
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1565541
Eb
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1027969
F
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1027470
C
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612798
Eb
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612453
Dominica Prima Adventus
aus "Sacrae Modulationes, Pars Prima"
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), basso continuo
Score, part (pdf download)
Item no.: 5207
Nr. 6, aus: "Courtly Masquing Ayres"
eingerichtet für Blechbläserquintett
for: 2 trumpets (C/B-flat), horn (F), 2 trombones (quintet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5283
aus: Außerlesene Teutsche Lieder
Nürnberg, 1580
for: Mixed choir (SAABar) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 5771
Introitus ad primam Missam Nativitatis Xi.
for: Mixed choir (SATTB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 6101
from: Il primo libro di Capricci, Rom 1624
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 6448
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 2696
bearbeitet für vier Blockflöten
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2772
eingerichtet für 2 Trompeten und 2 Posaunen
for: 2 trumpets (C/B-flat), 2 trombones (quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1808
über "Mille Regretz" von Josquin Desprez
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1858
aus "Operum Musicorum Posthumorum, Pars Prima"
Nürnberg, 1643
for: 2 violins [cornetts], viola da gamba [trombone], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4859
aus "Der Fluyten Lust-Hof"
for: Descant recorder
Sheet music
Item no.: 1456
eingerichtet für Blechbäserquartett
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3479
aus: "Newer Pavanen, Galliarden, unnd Intraden, auff allerley Instrumenten zu Musiciren..."
eingerichtet für Blockflötenquartett
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3616
aus: "Newer Pavanen, Galliarden, unnd Intraden, auff allerley Instrumenten zu Musiciren..."
eingerichtet für Blechbläserquartett
for: Trumpet (B-flat), horn (F), 2 trombones
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3907
for: Mixed choir (SATB/SAB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 734128
10 Variations
for: Orgel (Cembalo)
Music score
Item no.: 734503
Kanon zu vier Stimmen
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 756480
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1616863
for: Trumpet
Item no.: 1631797
Edition Schott
for: 5 recorders (SSATB)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 797364
for school orchestra
for: school orchestra
Score
Item no.: 734805