5. Chapter Summary

The Renaissance period was truly a time of great discovery in science, music, society, and the visual arts. The reemergence and renewed interests of Greek and Roman history/culture is still current in today’s modern society. Performing music outside of the church in courts and in public really began to thrive in the Renaissance. Many of the masterworks from the Renaissance, both sacred and secular, are still appreciated and continue to be the standard for today’s music industry. Songs of love, similar to Renaissance chansons, are still composed and performed today. The beauty of Renaissance music, as well as the other arts, is reintroduced and appreciated in modern-day theater performances and visually in museums. The results of the Protestant Reformation are still felt today, and the struggles between contemporary and traditional church worship continue very much as how they existed during the Renaissance. As we proceed with our reading and study of music through the Baroque period, try to recall the changes and trends of the Medieval and Renaissance eras and how they thread their way through history to today. Music and the Arts do not just occur; they evolve over time while also retaining certain elements of tradition.