The Late Renaissance

    1520s             -    The composing of madrigals begins in Italy.  There was a brief but intense, 

                                madrigal composing period in England between 1588 - 1627.  Madrigals 

                                eventually evolved into Baroque cantatas. 

                           Jacques Arcadelt  - Most famous of the early madrigal composers.        

    1530s             -    The modern violin is created and grows quickly in popularity.  The 

                                Amati family of Cremona, Italy become top violin makers.   

    1543               -   Publication of Nicolaus Copernicus'  On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres  

                              (heliocentrism)   

    1545 - 1563    -   Catholic Church officials meet at the Council of Trent during the Counter-

                                Reformation.   They questioned the complexity of Catholic sacred music.   


    1562               -   Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina composes the Missa Papae Marcelli
                                or  Pope Marcellus Mass   He made the lyrics stand out clear amidst the
                                polyphony.  Palestrina's works are considered to be the culmination of
                                Renaissance polyphony. 


Other Major Late Renaissance Polyphonic Composers:

     Orlande de Lassus  (1532? - 1594)  Franco-Flemish

     William Byrd  (c. 1540 - 1623)  English  -  Byrd not only writes polyphonic vocal works, 

                              he writes virginal (English harpsichord) and consort (chamber) music.

     Tomás Luis de Victoria  (c. 1548 - 1611)  Spanish


    1562 - 1592    -   The French Wars of Religion.  Catherine de Medici, Queen Regent of 

                 France, creates pageants where Protestant and Catholic children dance together.  

                 This fails to end hostilities, but is a move toward the creation of ballet.  Catherine 

                 also beefs up French music by importing top Italian violins and violinists.

    1577 - 1582    -   The Florentine Camerata, a group of Florence intellectuals meet over an 
                                 interest in reviving ancient Greek tragedy with music.  Musician Giulio 
                                 Caccini was an influential member of the Camerata.  

                             Giulio Caccini and the Florentine Camerata


c. 1580 - 1610    -   William Shakespeare writes his plays and sonnets.

      English composer  John Dowland  -  Follows the path of Jacques Arcadelt in featuring 

                                                                   subjective emotions and clarity in his lyrics. 

                                 English Consort Music