 The renaissance was a period of great social change throughout Europe that effected many aspects of society such as art, sciences and secular and religious music. The renaissance started at the beginning of the 15th century and lasted for almost 200 years, the reformation of music lasted through the latter half of this period.
Science was one of the main causes of the spreading of new religious music around Europe, with the invention of the printing press. Which allowed for the relative ‘mass production’ of religious musical scores, which meant that the same music could be heard at religious ceremonies all across the continent. There was also a new religious zeal brought on by the availability of mass produced bibles.
There was also a major new religion beginning, which had split away from the Catholic Church. This new Protestant church wanted its own Protestant music, further fueling a new surge in Christian musical composition. Many composers during this period turned to religious music for new inspiration, amongst them Dunstable, Campion, Holborne, Arcadet and Weelkes.
Religious music of this period was heavily influenced by polyphony, which translates as ’many sounds" which refers to of interweaving of two separate parts of the music. Adrian Willaert was a Flemish composer who became the choirmaster of the world-famous St Mark's, in Venice, he composed religious music intended to be sung by two choirs, and played by two organs, all at the same time.
Many popular composers of secular music, such as Bach, were heavily influenced by the churchgoing musical experiences. In addition, transferred this religious music influence into their secular compositions. Some people consider the reformation to be the golden age of church music; others believe it to be a relatively dull and stayed period of religious musical composition.
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