Music History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Music History - Essay Example This was not the first effort at change since before the Council of Trent ever convened to discuss music in 1562; the Catholic Church had spoken out against an alleged maltreatment of music used in the mass. In 1503, the manipulation of the beliefs and using non-liturgical songs was looked into. The representatives at the Council were a connection in the long sequence of church clergy who had pressed for a reform of the musical liturgy. The council reforms included prohibiting professional musicians, banishing polyphonic singing and omitting the use of an organ. Council of Trent was attempting to reinstate the sense of holiness to the church setting as well as what was significant for the mass (Fellerer, 1). Pope Marcellus was a forthright critic of excessively overstated polyphony and its disruption from the meaning of the spoken liturgy and the release of holy texts. He made his mass simple in its refined harmonies and not permitting the music to cover the words being sung. By this, he responded to the council of Trent’s concerns. The sections of the Catholic Mass include Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Angus Dei. It can be sung with influential accompaniment up to and together with a full orchestra or a cappella. The Pope Marcellus Mass was written for six parts a cappella. The parts do not sing the same melody in harmony, thus it is polyphonic. The various voices move separately and at the same time, they form a balanced accord making Palestrina’s mastery of music evident (Josh and Cristi.net,