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.
F
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1665864
G
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1666041
C
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1665925
Choralbearbeitung für vierstimmigen Chor a cappella
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1660318
for: 5 recorders (SSATB)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 1650942
for: 5 recorders (SSATB)
Single part descant recorder 1
Item no.: 1650934
G
for: Flute, piano
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1645955
F
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1646080
F
for: Flute, piano
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1645941
Eb
for: Clarinet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1642301
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 1642011
Bb
for: Clarinet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1642159
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 1642012
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 1642006
C
for: Bassoon, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1642232
Eb
for: Clarinet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1642292
for: Schulchor, gemischter Chor (SATB)
Music score
Item no.: 1641933
A
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1638616
for: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1638511
for: Violin, Keyboard
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1638809
for: Flute, Keyboard
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1638874
for: Viola, Keyboard
Instrumental Solo & Accompaniment
Item no.: 1638524
F
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612452
for: Guitar
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1612060
F
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612799
D
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612454
E
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612441
E
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612797
C
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612798
Eb
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612453
Eb
for: Bassoon, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1589095
C
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589473
Eb
for: Piano, Voice, High Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589566
Eb
for: Piano, Voice, Medium Voice
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589597
G
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589152
Ab
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589492
Eb
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1589586
F
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1589669
for: 2 Gitarren (Vihuelas)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1582409
for: Kanon
Music score
Item no.: 1582272
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582255
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582254
for: Kanon
Music score
Item no.: 1582297
"Can she excuse my wrongs"
for: Sopran Blockflöte (Tenor-Blockflöte) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 1582232
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582253
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1582301
for: zweistimmiger Chor und Klavier, Alt Blockflöte ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 1582269
for: zweistimmiger Chor und Klavier, Alt Blockflöte ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 1566372