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despite advances in other areas, renaissance harmony and polyphony remained restricted to the music rules that governed most of the medieval period.

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Final answer:

The Renaissance period continued to build upon the musical foundations of the Medieval era, witnessing the development of polyphony and the continued use of modes, while gradually incorporating greater harmony and smoother textures in compositions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Renaissance Music and the Continuity of Medieval Traditions

While the Renaissance period introduced significant changes in the realm of music, it maintained several musical principles established during the Medieval period. This era, marked by a transition from monophonic to polyphonic textures, witnessed the rise of polyphony which resulted in more elaborate musical compositions and the need for larger ensembles as well as instrument sets that harmonized across all vocal ranges.

Medieval music included both sacred and secular forms, with monophonic Gregorian chant dominating the early medieval period. Polyphonic music began to flourish in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, epitomized by the Ars nova. However, in the Renaissance, harmony and polyphony were guided by medieval rules, but with even more focus on chordal progression and modal harmonies.

The increased use of thirds, which had previously been considered dissonant, and a greater vocal range allowed for smoother textures and more independent musical lines. Principal liturgical forms such as masses and motets persisted throughout the Renaissance. Ultimately, the modal system began to break down, paving the way for tonal characteristics that would define subsequent musical periods.

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User Xywang
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Final answer:

The subject is music, specifically Renaissance harmony and polyphony. Despite advances in other areas, music during the Renaissance period remained restricted by rules from the medieval period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Renaissance period marked a significant change in music from the Middle Ages. While there were advancements in other areas, harmony and polyphony in music remained restricted to the rules that governed most of the medieval period.

During the Renaissance, polyphony, which refers to music with multiple independent voices, became more elaborate. However, it still adhered to the traditional rules and conventions of medieval music.

Renaissance music was characterized by a focus on modes, richer texture with four or more parts, and a greater concern with the flow and progression of chords. Despite the advancements in other areas, harmony and polyphony in music remained rooted in the medieval traditions during the Renaissance period.

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User Syko
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