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The Complete History of Music, Part 2: The Renaissance

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What you are going to learn

The origins of Western music taught through examples, conversation, and context. 

In this course we will look at the world during the renaissance (approximately 1300 - 1600), through the lens of music. This period begins with the church dominating most music, but ends with "the reformation", in which many churches split off from the catholic church, which had a big impact on the music in those churches. We will also look at what was happening outside of the churches musically, including songs, instruments, minstrels, choirs, and more.
Here is a list of some of the topics we will cover:
  • Politics of the world during the renaissance
  • Europe during the renaissance
  • Musical training
  • The music of Jusquin Desprez
  • The age of the castrato
  • New compositional techniques in the renaissance
  • New tuning systems in the renaissance
  • The dawn of printed music
  • The music of John Dunstable
  • The polyphonic mass
  • The music of DuFay
  • Chanson
  • The music of Busnoy
  • The Mass in the renaissance
  • The music of Ockeghem
  • The reformation's effects on music
  • Music in the Lutheran church
  • Music in the Calvinist church
  • Music in the Church of England
  • Catholic music after the reformation
  • Jewish music
  • The amateur musician
  • The development of song in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and England
  • The Italian madrigal
  • Instruments of the renaissance
  • Dance Music
  • And much, much more!

Dr. J. Anthony Allen

Music PhD, Producer, Composer, Instructor, Professor, Author, & Ableton Certified Trainer. 
About
Dr. Allen is a professional musician, top-rated online instructor, and university professor. In 2017 the Star Tribune featured him as a "Mover and a Shaker," and he is recognized by the Grammy Foundation for his music education classes. He currently teaches at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN, Slam Academy, and Punkademic Courses.

Course reviews

Fascinating stuff and presented in a logical and straightforward manner. If you are also learning music theory this is an incredible complement to help understand how all those "rules" developed - the context of the music we know. Be entirely aware that this is a wonderfully presented history of WESTERN music - and you will not be disappointed.
- Steve Davis
I used this class to prepare for my graduate placement exam. It highlights the important parts of each historical period through the Early Baroque and follows the textbook quite closely.
- Richa Namballa