U2 Music- Renaissance

FYI

Jan 1, 1350

For your infromation, many dates are in January 1st because many could not be confirmed. For example, most birth dates of composers or other historical figures cannot be confirmed as the data does not exist.

The Renaissance Period

Period: Jan 1, 1350 to Jan 1, 1600

The beginning and the end of the Renaissance time period.

Black Death

Jan 1, 1351

Black Death ravages throughout Europe. It was a disease that was soon to devastate half the population of Europe.

Petrarch dies

Jul 19, 1374

Petrarch was an Italian scholar born in Italy in 1304. He is often called the father of Humanism. His sonnets were admired by people throughout Europe and becmae a model for lyrical poetry during the Renaissance period.

Giovani De'Medeci Moves to Florence

Jan 1, 1397

Giovani De'Medeci, commonly known as the founder of the Medeci dynasty moves to Florence.

Guillaume Duffay is born

Jan 1, 1397

Around this time, Guillaume Duffay is born; his birth is not confirmed. He is the french composer of the 15th century, and one of the most famous and influential in Europe.

Ghiberti awarded commission to create doors for the baptistery of San Giovanni

Jan 1, 1401

Ghiberti first became famous when he won the 1401 competition for the first set of bronze doors for the Baptistery of the cathedral in Florence. Later on, he created the gates of Paradise.

Masaccio is born

Dec 21, 1401

Massacio, the first great painter of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaissance is born on this day. He was one of the best painters of his generation because he was outstanding at recreating lifelike figures and movements and creating three dimensionality.

Brunelleschi works on dome of Florence Cathedral

Period: Jan 1, 1417 to Jan 1, 1436

BrunelleschiFilippo Brunelleschi was one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. He is perhaps most famous for his studies of linear perspective and engineering the dome of the Florence Cathedral, but his accomplishments also include other architectural works, sculpture, mathematics, engineering and even ship design. His principal surviving works are to be found in Florence, Italy.

Van Eycks finishes The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb

Jan 1, 1432

This famous painting can be seen in the Saint Bavo cathedral of Ghent. It is considered to be one of the artistic masterpieces in Belgium. It also is considered one of the most influential and beautiful painting of the Middle-Ages and the Flemish painting schoo.

Valla: Donation of Constantine

Jan 1, 1440

Valla uses humanist skills to expose Donation of Constantine as forgery. At this point of time, Valla finishes the Donation of Constantine.

Gutenberg invents the Printing Press

Jan 1, 1440

The printing press was invented in the Holy Roman Empire by the German Johannes Gutenberg in around 1440, based on existing screw presses. Gutenberg, a goldsmith by profession, developed a complete printing system, which perfected the printing process through all of its stages by adapting existing technologies to printing purposes, as well as making groundbreaking inventions of his own.

Pope Nicholas V is appointed

Jan 1, 1447

Pope Nicholas V is appointed and he begins programs of rebuilding. He took the name Nicholas V in honour of his early benefactor, Niccolò Albergati.

Johannes Ockeghem emerges

Jan 1, 1450

Ockeghem's Missa ProlationumThe musical composer Johannes Ockeghem was the most famous composer of the Franco-Flemish School in the last half of the 15th century, and is often considered the most influential composer between Dufay and Josquin des Prez. In addition to being a renowned composer, he was also an honored singer, choirmaster, and teacher.

Dufay: Mille Bonjours!

Jan 1, 1450

Mille Bonjours! By DufayAround this time, Dufay composes Mille Bonjours! He was an influential composer during the Renaissance period.

Josquin is born.

Jan 1, 1450

El GrilloJosquin was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was the most famous European composer between Guillaume Dufay and Palestrina, and is usually considered to be the central figure of the Franco-Flemish School.

Cantus Firmus introduced by composers

Period: Jan 1, 1450 to Jan 1, 1550

During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Cantus firmus was commonly used in the Middle Ages which was strongly based on the Gregorian Chant.

Leonardo Da Vinci is born

Apr 15, 1452

Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most famous people of his time, the renaissance period was a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer which influenced the others of the same period.

Hundred Year's War comes to cease.

Jan 1, 1453

The Hundred Year's War, which started before in 1337 was a battle between the Kingdoms of England and France. Although once pushed back, the French gathered up and fought against the British kingdom as they gained victories in the last battles.

Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople

Mar 8, 1453

The Ottoman empire rose during 1299 to 1453, and eventually conquered Constantionple in 1453.The picture shows the fall of Constantinople.

Paumann: Fundamentum Organisandi

Mar 8, 1453

Fundamentum Organisandi by Conrad Paumann (Excerpt)Conrad Paumann, a blind organist from Germany publishes "Fundamentum Organisandi", a collection of organ pieces, songs and dances.

Gutenberg Bible Published

Jan 1, 1454

In 1454, the Gutenberg Bible is published, shortly after the invention of Gutenberg's printing press. It was the first major book printed.

Gozzoli: Adoration of the Magi

Mar 8, 1459

In 1459, Benozzo Gozzoli finishes the Adoration of the Magi. He paints it in the Cappella Ammannati, facing a gate of the Campo Santo. The picture is Benozzo Gozzoli.

Pierre de la Rue is born

Jan 1, 1460

Pierre de la Rue was the leading composer at the court of Burgundy during the golden age of Franco-Flemish polyphony, and arguably the last great exponent of the medieval aesthetic in music. He mostly composed pieces for vocals.

Bellini and Mantegna: The Agony in the Garden

Jan 1, 1465

Bellini and Mantegna finish The Agony in the Garden in 1965, which has been worked on since 1459. It portrays Christ kneeling on the Mount of Olives in prayer, with his disciples Peter, James and John sleeping near to him. It is currently in the national gallery of London

Sixtus IV is appointed as pope

Aug 12, 1471

On this day, Sixtus IV is appointed as pope. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age, the Vatican Archives.

Ficino comes up with the Platonic Theory

Jan 1, 1474

Marsilio Ficino was one of the most influential humanist philosophers of the early Italian Renaissance. Marsilio Ficino's main original work was his treatise on the immortality of the soul (Platonic theory)

Botticelli paints Primavera

Jan 1, 1482

Primavera, also known as Allegory of Spring, is a tempera panel painting by Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. The painting features six female figures and two male, along with a blindfolded putto, in an orange grove. The picture presents the Primavera by Botticelli who finished the painting around 1482.

Cape of Good Hope

Mar 8, 1488

On this date, Portugese sailors led by Bartolomeu Diaz rounded the Cape of Good Hope. The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. The discovery of this cape has led to many more discoveries. The picture shows the map where the Cape of Good Hope is located.

Alexander VI appointed as pope.

Mar 8, 1492

On the death of Pope Innocent VIII, Alexander VI, somtimes known as Rodrigo Borgia, was appointed as pope. Unfortunately, to this day his periods of reign were considered corrupted.

Leonardo da Vinci: The Last Supper

Jan 1, 1498

Leonardo da Vinci finishes his famous painting "The Last Supper" in 1498. The painting is for his patron Duke Ludovico Sforza and his duchess Beatrice d'Este. The painting represents the scene of The Last Supper from the final days of Jesus.

Sailors reach India

Mar 8, 1498

Portugese sailors led by Vasco de Gama end up reaching India. It happened shortly after Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope. The two discoveries show the superiority Portugese have on the water and in discoveries.

France conquers Milan

Jan 1, 1499

The French Invasion in the Italian War led to France invading Milan. This gave France an opportunity to come in contact with ideas from the Renaissance and such motifs and ideas start to spread around in Europe as the ideas start escaping Italy.

The Crumhorn

Jan 1, 1500

Despite being invented at previous stages, the Crumhorn was mostly used during the Renaissance period. The Crumhorn is a reed instrument that looks similar to a bag pipe. When blown, they make a strong buzzing sound.

Julius II is appointed as Pope.

Nov 1, 1503

Pope Julius II is appointed as Pope. After his papacy, it is said that the "Roman Golden Age" started. His papacy was marked by an active foreign policy, ambitious building projects, and patronage for the arts.

Michelangelo: David

Jan 1, 1504

At this point of time Michelangelo finished sculpting David. He was asked by the consuls of the Guild of Wool to complete an unfinished project begun 40 years earlier by Agostino di Duccio: a colossal statue portraying David as a symbol of Florentine freedm.

Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa

Jan 1, 1505

The Mona Lisa is a portrait by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is a painting in oil on a poplar panel which was bought by king Francis I of France. It is now the property of the French Republic and it is on permanent display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris.

Thomas Tallis is born

Jan 1, 1505

Lamentations of JermiahThomas Tallis, one of the most famous composers of the Renaissance period, is born. Born in England, he flourished as a church musician. One of his famous works is Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.

Start of the Protestant Reformation

Jan 1, 1517

The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. Their efforts led to the creation of new national Protestant churches.

Changes to church music

Jan 1, 1517

After the protestant reformation, significant changes to church music were made. Although started at a monophonic level, it evolved to a four part harmony.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina is born.

Feb 3, 1525

Missa Papae MarcelliGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music and the best-known 16th-century representative of the Roman School of musical composition. He had a lasting influence on the development of church music, and his work has often been seen as the culmination of Renaissance polyphony. It is also said at this point of time Renaissance polyphony reached its height. His most famous piece of work is Missa Papae Marcelli.

Sack of Rome

May 6, 1527

The Sack of Rome on 6 May 1527 was a military event carried out by the mutinous troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in Rome, then part of the Papal States. It resulted in a Spanish- Imperial victory.

Orlande de Lassus is born

Jan 1, 1532

Orlande de Lassus was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance. He is today considered to be the chief representative of the mature polyphonic style of the Franco-Flemish school, and one of the three most famous and influential musicians in Europe at the end of the 16th century

Birth of William Byrd

Jan 1, 1540

William Byrd was an English composer where he wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music. Later on, he became involved in Catholicism.

Catholic Counter Reformation: Complaints against Church Music

Jan 1, 1550

After the Catholic Counter Reformation, the Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563 to discuss about complaints against church and its music. The picture shows Council Trent.

Giovanni Gabrieli is born

Jan 1, 1554

In EcclesiisIn 1554, Giovanni Gabrieli is born. Giovanni Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist. He was one of the most influential musicians of his time, and represents the culmination of the style of the Venetian School. His most famous single piece is In Ecclesiis, which is considered a masterpiece using polychoral techniques.

Elizabeth I succeeds throne of England

Jan 15, 1559

Elizabeth I was the queen of England from this point. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth I was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. Her reign signals the Golden Age of England.

Claudio Monteverdi is born

May 15, 1567

Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian composer and a singer. His music marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He also wrote one of the earliest operas L'Orfeo, which was soon to be written in 1607.

The Natural Trumpet

Jan 1, 1580

The Natural Trumpet is the earliest form of the Trumpet which was a valvless brass instrument that was able to play the notes of the harmonic series. Composers such as Giovanni Gabrieli composed pieces specifically for this instrument. Some examples of the instrument go as far back as this date.

Italian Madrigals published in England

Jan 1, 1588

Italian Madrigals around 1600s.In 1588 a collection of Italian Madrigals with English words was published in England, and it sparked off an interest in English Madrigal writing. They were performed in rich people's homes. The three kinds of madrigals were The Madrigal Proper, The Ballet and The Ayre.

William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke

Jan 1, 1591

First Pavian from My Ladye Nevells BookeIt is supposed that on this day William Byrd finished composing My Ladye Nevells Booke. It is a music manuscript containing keyboard pieces and is considered one of the most important collections of keyboard music of the renaissance.

John Dowland: Flow My Tears

Jan 1, 1596

Flow My TearsOn this date, John Dowland finished composing one of his most famous lute songs, Flow My Tears. Like others of Dowland's lute songs, the piece's musical form and style are based on a dance. Currently, his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and has been a source of repertoire for lutenists and classical guitarists during the twentieth century

Bibliography cont.

Jan 1, 1601

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primavera_(painting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Alexander_VI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Julius_II
http://www.johndowland.co.uk/
http://artsongcentral.com/2007/dowland-flow-my-tears/
http://www.tapiasgold.com/instruments.html
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/composers/larue.html

Bibliography

Jan 1, 1601

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Years'_War#French_victory:_1429.E2.80.931453
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Years'_War#French_victory:_1429.E2.80.931453
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0860176.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benozzo_Gozzoli
http://www.abcgallery.com/G/gozzoli/gozzoli2.html
http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventors/a/Gutenberg.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sixtus_IV
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14032b.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsilio_Fi