From the Mass to the Madrigal: The Sounds of Renaissance Europe with Gil Harel

Join us for this live webinar on Thursday May 28th, at 7:00 PM EST.

Gil Harel discusses the sounds of renaissance Europe. The word “renaissance” is often equated with the notion of “rebirth.” And while the idea of resurrecting the achievements of antiquity may hold true in other disciplines, this is not true for music. While medieval music had been characterized by relative simplicity (Gregorian chant), it grew to become increasingly complex and sometimes harshly dissonant (organum). As European society evolved, so to did the music, becoming more refined and sonorous, with codified rules on harmony and creating cadences. During this program, Professor Gil Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) will discuss important genres of renaissance music: first, the motets and masses which represent the spiritual nature of this period, then the madrigals which reflect the poetic and secular in life. Brimming with vibrant polyphony, crystalline harmony, and witty text-painting, renaissance music provides the modern listener with a rich repository of sound, reflective of an equally rich period in European cultural history.

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Gil Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) is a musicologist and music theorist whose interests include styles ranging from western classical repertoire to jazz. Previously, he has served on the faculty at CUNY Baruch College, where he was awarded the prestigious “Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching”, as well as the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, China. Currently, he teaches at Naugatuck Valley Community College, where he was presented with the “Merit Award for Exemplary Service to the College.” At NVCC, Dr. Harel conducts the college chorale, a cappella ensemble, teaches music history and theory, and serves as musical director of theater productions. Outside of teaching, he enjoys staying active as a pianist and vocalist.