Music and the Counter-Reformation

The early decades of the 16th century were fateful ones for the Roman Catholic Church. With the threat of Lutheranism in and , the success of Calvinism in , and the formation of in independent Church of England with King Henry VIII as its head, Catholic officials realized that a reform of their church was timely and necessary. After much delay, the council which aimed at a “cleansing” of the Catholic Church finally met in December, 1545, at , an imperial city beyond the Italian frontier in the . Among the many reforms which resulted from the decrees of the Council of Trent were concerned with the use of music in worship. Although discussions on church music made up only a small portion of the work of the Council of Trent, the fact that it dealt with music at all demonstrates its importance in church life. Another problem addressed by the Council of Trent was the inappropriate manner in which some of the cathedral Canons chanted the Divine Office. Patrick May December 6, 2010

Music and the Counter Reformation The Council of Trent To respond to the influence of Protestantism with its emphasis on unmediated, individual devotion, the Roman Catholic curia convened the many sessions which together are known as the Council of Trent. In the context of reforming the liturgy, the church laid down precepts governing how music should be conceived and set. While reflecting the views of St. Augustine who felt that the beautiful sound of music could overwhelm contemplation of the meaning of the text, the reforms were also influenced by the humanist perspective on the power inherent in text. Bishop Cirillo Franco in a letter of 1549 stated the problems of the old style: I should like, in short, when a Mass is to be sung in church, that its music be framed according to the fundamental subject of the words, in harmonies and rhythms apt to move our affections to religion and piety, and likewise in Psalms, Hymns, and other praises that are offered to God..... Index

SUMMARY OF WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY SUMMARY OF WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY by Marlon Feld The following is an outline of the history of Western classical music. Although "Western" and "classical" are inexact terms, they do name a reasonably coherent musical tradition that stretches from the Dark Ages to the present day. The descriptive texts will not delve deeply into matters of musical meaning or technique; the purpose of the outline is to give you a basic working familiarity with different periods and styles. Medieval History (Plainchant through Machaut) Western classical music history is traditionally understood as beginning with plainchant (also called "Gregorian" chant), the vocal religious practice of the Roman Catholic Church. LISTEN: Plainchant: Alleluia pascha nostrum (before 800) [Text] The earliest major repertory of Western secular (non-religious) music which has come down to us is that of the troubadors and trouveres, French poet-musicians of the Middle Ages who set their own poems to music. LISTEN: J.

Music History - Renaissance Era - Reformation (Germany) Home | Encyclopaedia | History | Renaissance Era | Reformation (Germany) Music History - Reformation (Germany) Until the Renaissance period, Germany was comparatively backwards in its music development. Emperor Maximilian I brought the composer Heinrich Isaac back from Italy in 1496. Isaac brought German music to a level comparable with the rest of Europe. The Reformation began as an attempt to rid the Catholic church of corruption and to try and allow every man and woman the right to worship in his or her own language. As a result of his act, music became either catholic or Protestant. Luther was himself a fine musician and played the lute and flute. <A HREF="