1 | Age of Discovery

Social and Cultural Influences

Peter Kun Frary

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Europe's Renaissance era (c. 1450-1600), heralds the early modern period in world history, boasting unprecedented development in science, politics, technology, warfare, and arts. It marks the dawn of the European colonial period and global propagation of Western culture—the Age of Discovery. Important figures of the era include playwright William Shakespeare (1554-1616), scientist and artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), and explorer Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). The Renaissance coincided with China’s Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568–1600).

Abduction of the Sabine | Giambologna, 1529-1608 | Classical Greco-Roman art influenced Renaissance sculpture | Loggia dei Lanzi | ©Peter Kun Frary

Abduction of the Sabine | Giambologna, 1529-1608 | Classical Greco-Roman art influenced Renaissance sculpture | Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence | ©Peter Kun Frary

Renaissance Culture

The Renaissance was a European cultural movement emphasizing a rebirth of classical learning and art, independence of thought and humanist values.

Humanism

The secular tendencies of the Ars Nova flourished in Humanism, a cultural movement that prioritized earthly life, self-realization through reason, and the rejection of supernaturalism. Humanism also reached across time, space and cultures by reviving ancient Greek and Roman philosophy and art. Humanism was a radical divergence from the traditions and dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.

Humanism aimed to create eloquence and clarity in speech and writing, enabling citizens to engage in civic and cultural life. This goal was fostered through studying the humanities: philosophy, grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and music. Five centuries later, this curriculum lives on in college liberal arts core requirements.

Holy Roman Empire Map | The Holy Roman Empire at its greatest size during the Hohenstaufen dynasty (1155-1268) | Wikimedia Commons

Holy Roman Empire Map | The Holy Roman Empire at its greatest size during the Hohenstaufen dynasty (1155-1268) | Wikimedia Commons

Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire’s decline accelerated during the Renaissance. The Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, the capital of the eastern region of the Empire. This severed the Empire’s ties with antiquity and reduced it to a mere shadow of its former self: Germany, Austria, and parts of the Netherlands.

Luther and Family | G. Spangenberg 1828-91 | Museum der bildenden Künste

Luther and Family | Gustav Spangenberg, 1828-91 | Luther advocated congregational singing and musical instruments in church. | Museum der bildenden Künste

Protestant Reformation

Another great institution, the Roman Catholic Church, was splintered in 1517 by the Protestant Reformation, initiated by German theologian Martin Luther (1483-1546) when he posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church. The Protestant Reformation was a watershed event for music, changing its role in Christian worship and, eventually, impacting music cultures throughout Europe.

Changes in Theology

Martin Luther preached the doctrine of justification by faith, rather than by works, and railed against papal authority and the sale of indulgences. A prolific song writer, Luther penned the iconic hymn, A Mighty Fortress is My God (Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott), often referred to as the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation."

Congregational Singing

Luther introduced congregational singing in the vernacular—men and women singing together in church using their native language—and encouraged use of musical instruments in church. His reforms were revolutionary since, at the time, the Catholic Church only allowed a cappella singing in Latin by male cleric musicians.

Although Latin was used in Lutheran services, German was increasingly preferred for singing, preaching and Bible studies. The role Luther granted to instrumental music and mixed choral singing in church greatly enhanced the development of music in Germany and Northern Europe.

Martin Luther's A Mighty Fortress is My God | J. Spangenberg, Gesangbuch, 1529

A Mighty Fortress is Our God | John Cavicchio plays an organ Chorale Prelude based on Luther's hymn (5:26).

Voyages of Discovery

The decline of the Roman Catholic Church and Holy Roman Empire paved the way for European art and culture. Christopher Columbus’s (1492), Ferdinand Magellan’s (1519), and other explorers’ voyages brought riches and opportunities to Europe’s port cities. The new economy created a large and powerful middle class, known as the merchant class or bourgeoisie, a social class between nobility and peasantry. This class was destined to be consumers of art, music, and literature.

Cross-Cultural Exchange

The Renaissance marked the dawn of globalization. During this era, European powers embarked on political, economic, and cultural colonization of the world, altering—in some instances, supplanting—music cultures in remote regions of Earth. Cross-cultural exchange is a two-way street, and indeed, the European conquerors and colonizers enriched Europe with novel food, plants, animals, people, raw materials, art, and, on occasion, music.

Moses| Michelangelo (1475-1564) | Basílica de San Pietro, Vincoli, Rome, Italy | The Catholic Church was an important arts patron | Photo, ©Peter Kun Frary

Michelangelo moses

Book Publication

Education—no longer a monopoly of the Church—became accessible to the general public due to the printing press and the rise of a middle class with leisure time. Nobility and the middle class valued education for its pride and status, and musical abilities were seen as a sign of high education and class standing.

Printing Press

The invention of the printing press in 1450 by Johannes Gutenburg (1398-1468) revolutionized book production and accelerated the spread of culture. Prior to 1450, books were produced by hand, making book ownership and literacy expense. Although the Bible was the first mass produced book, musical scores quickly ensued, bringing music to the burgeoning merchant class.

Patronage of Art and Music

The Roman Catholic Church, once a major patron of the arts, faced reduced resources and influence during the Protestant Reformation. Consequently, musical activities shifted to royal courts, which employed ten to sixty musicians for entertainment and chapel duties. While considered servants by noble patrons, professional musicians enjoyed a higher status in Renaissance society than during the Middle Ages. They were recognized as creative individuals and signed their works.