RENAISSANCE HUMANISM AND THE MOTETS OF JOSQUIN DES PREZ

Authors

Jennifer Smith Black, Brigham Young University
Dr. Joseph Parry, Brigham Young University
Dr. Harrison Powley, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Renaissance, humanism, Motet, Josquin des Prez, music

College

Humanities

Department

Comparative Arts and Letters

Abstract

Renaissance humanism was the central philosophy and ordering principle of the era. It had a profound influence on all the art and philosophy of the time. It is easy to see humanism translated into painting and architecture, but much more difficult to find it in Renaissance music. Since humanism was such a pervasive influence, however, it must have had as significant an effect on Renaissance music as it did on the other arts. Finding the link between humanism and music in the Renaissance was my goal in this research. To do so, I focused on the life and works of Josquin des Prez (ca. 1440-1521), one of the foremost composers of his time, hoping that his music might provide viable evidences of humanism, thus making a connection with all the other Renaissance arts.

Recommended Citation

Black, Jennifer Smith; Parry, Dr. Joseph; and Powley, Dr. Harrison (2013) "RENAISSANCE HUMANISM AND THE MOTETS OF JOSQUIN DES PREZ," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 689.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/689