Renaissance

The Renaissance music genre encompasses a rich period of European art music spanning from the 14th to the early 17th century. Defining features of Renaissance music include the flourishing of polyphony, where multiple independent melody lines are interwoven, and an increased attention to harmonic structure, enabling emotional expression through varied vocal and instrumental compositions. Textual clarity is emphasized, with composers like Léonin and Pérotin pioneering organum and polyphonic structures in sacred music, while later figures such as Girolamo Frescobaldi developed instrumental forms. The era witnessed the rise of secular genres and the madrigal, capturing humanist themes. Ensembles like the Orlando Consort and Cappella Mariana revive these textured harmonies, delivering performances that reflect the genre's blend of spiritual contemplation and the era's awakening to individual musicality.

DIVISION: The Virtuoso Consort (Works by John Jenkins)

John Jenkins•

Fretwork•

Silas Wollston

Album - 22 Tracks - Released September 12, 2025