Renaissance Dance Music

New Orleans Jazz

The Renaissance (1450-1600) fostered a time of

great achievements in learning, science, and the
arts throughout Europe. From the Protestant
Revolution, to the invention of the printing press,
to exploration of the seas and rediscoveries of
ancient writings, the Renaissance brought a period
of many innovations. This ultimately led to new
composition styles and genres, the development
of musical instruments, and methods of
disseminating music.

Jass musicians first appeared in New Orleans,

Louisiana in the South of the United States of
America near the turn of the century. This early
form of Jazz flowed through the streets of New
Orleans and eventually to the big cities, such as
Chicago and New York, where they were
successfully recorded by as early as 1917. The
Original Dixieland Jazz Band, New Orleans Rhythm
Kings, and Joe King Olivers Creole Jazz Band and
Kid Orys The Hot Fives and the Hot Sevens, were
several of the memorable New Orleans Jazz
performers of the time.

Renaissance Dance Music flourished during this

time, and composers such as Tielman Susato, who
presented dance music notable to the late
Renaissance, introduced outstanding
arrangements. Music of this time was improvised
by many people; nevertheless, thanks to the
printing press, composed directions were also
easier to come by. While vocal music was a
popular aspect of the early Renaissance, the use of
instruments became more common and was
mostly used to create songs for dancing. Often
times, these songs were adapted from other
polyphonic vocal pieces. In fact, polyphony was a
skill developed during the Renaissance that sets it
apart from the Medieval period.
Some pieces were utilitarian pieces specifically
designed to accompany music. Examples of dance
inspired compositions are Tielman Susatos La
Mourisque, La Spagna, by Josquin des Prez, and
Terpsichore, by Michael Praetorious.

Throughout the nineteenth century, French,

Spanish, and African culture in New Orleans
created a unique diverse culture the presented
musicians with a variety of ideas for music making.
The use of many instruments, from the trombone
to the clarinet to the piano, provided the ability to
create rich toons and polyphonic characteristics.
Improvisation was a big part of jazz, whether by
instrumentalists themselves, or embellishments by
a vocalist.
All in all, New Orleans Jazz music intertwined
greatly with the culture of New Orleans as a lively
and busy town. This music could be played loud
and clear and could be heard at any street corner.
Jazz was known for being a style of hot dance
music that worked well anywhere from in dance
halls to riverboats.