Summary

The rise of Humanism, the wealth of the upper middle class, and the increasing influence of Royalty and the Aristocracy lead to a decrease in influence from the church on society, as well as increased artistic freedom for composers, artists and intellectuals. The birth of the printing press, along with a desire on the part of aristocrats and middle class for non-church related education, not only assisted the rise of Protestantism; it also fueled new avenues for music education and the dissemination of music literature.

The Church now faced competition from the royal courts for cherished composers, helping lead to a shift towards proliferation of secular music of the highest order. Italy, Germany, England and Spain became musical centers of the Renaissance because of these factors. The resources in this section are provided to introduce you to the culture of Renaissance music, and key composers of the time.