The Middle Ages and Renaissance witnessed a shift from the religious focus of a dominant Church to the intellectual and artistic freedom of Humanism. Music education, composition, and performance was controlled by the Church in the Middle Ages. Church influence, however, began to wane in the Renaissance due to the effect of Humanism on the aristocracy and upper middle classes. In the upcoming chapters, you'll be invited to explore resources devoted to aspects of music in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Web resources are included for those interested in the general cultural and historic backdrop of the period.