Renaissance

• Plainchant


  Plainchant is Religious singing with the following characteristics - Acappella, Latin, No Time Signature, Mellismatic.
• Mode


  A type of 8 note scale. There are 7 modes, one for each of the white notes found on a keyboard.
• Mass


  The Mass is a Roman Catholic Church service. It is sung in Latin and is made up of 5 sections.
• Motet


  Sung words of the bible in between sections of the mass. Sung in Latin. A capella. Comes from the Catholic.
• Anthem


  This was also sung words of the bible in between sections of the Mass. Sung in English. Comes from the Protestant Church. Sometimes sung in a capella, sometimes accompanied by an organ. Featured solo parts.
• Madrigal


  Polyphonic. Use of word painting. Generally through-composed. About love and life in general. Sung in English.
• Ballett


  Type of madrigal. Strophic form. Features fa-la-la-la refrain at the end of each verse. Sung in English.
• Ayre/Air


  Song that was mostly accompanied by the lute. Very often sung by countertenor singers. Can sometimes be performed by a consort of viols. Strophic form.
• Chorale


  A chorale is a hymn tune sung in German. Tend to have simple, easy to follow melodies.