Interaction of Secular and Sacral Music of the Renaissance

1 Abstract In its six chapters, this thesis discusses the relations between secular and sacral Renaissance music. It shows that the secular and sacral music of the Renaissance period were influencing each other and had many similarities, in form and attributes, and as such can appear next to each other on musical recordings, concerts, etc. The art of the Renaissance constitutes a large and important chapter in the history of mankind. The first chapter of this thesis anchors the era of the Renaissance into its historical context, states definitions and characteristics. The second chapter focuses on Renaissance music, its historical background and the fundamentals of its style. The third chapter explains the concepts of sacral, liturgical and church music. The fourth chapter, the most comprehensive, discusses any actual reciprocal influence of secular and sacred Renaissance music in terms of their development in time the turn of the eras, Early Renaissance, High Renaissance, and the new currents and styles of 16th century. The matter under discussion is illustrated by the enclosed CD Renaissance Tunes . The fifth chapter concentrates on an analysis of the sacral work Missa l'homme armé by G. Dufay (parts Kyrie and Agnus Dei). Dufay was one of the first composers to use a secular tune in their masses,..