Book contents
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Series page
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Music examples
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Historiography
- Part II Improvisation and composition
- Part III Humanism
- Part IV Music and other arts
- Part V Music in churches, courts, and cities
- 21 Musical institutions in the fifteenth century and their political contexts
- 22 Music and musicians at the Burgundian court in the fifteenth century
- 23 The papal chapel in the late fifteenth century
- 24 The beneficial system and fifteenth-century polyphony
- 25 Professional women singers in the fifteenth century: a tale of two Annas
- 26 Savonarola and the boys of Florence: songs and politics
- Part VI Religious devotion and liturgy
- Part VII Theory and practice
- Part VIII Sources
- Part IX Genres
- Part X Reception
- Index
24 - The beneficial system and fifteenth-century polyphony
from Part V - Music in churches, courts, and cities
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2015
Book contents
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Series page
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Music examples
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Historiography
- Part II Improvisation and composition
- Part III Humanism
- Part IV Music and other arts
- Part V Music in churches, courts, and cities
- 21 Musical institutions in the fifteenth century and their political contexts
- 22 Music and musicians at the Burgundian court in the fifteenth century
- 23 The papal chapel in the late fifteenth century
- 24 The beneficial system and fifteenth-century polyphony
- 25 Professional women singers in the fifteenth century: a tale of two Annas
- 26 Savonarola and the boys of Florence: songs and politics
- Part VI Religious devotion and liturgy
- Part VII Theory and practice
- Part VIII Sources
- Part IX Genres
- Part X Reception
- Index
Summary
This chapter discusses the evolution of the medieval beneficial system and its culmination in the fifteenth-century. It demonstrates how the system worked. The chapter also discusses the salutary effects of the system upon musicians, patrons, rulers, and the papacy, as well as one's understanding of music and musicians of that century. The fifteenth century saw the flowering of secular princely chapels, staffed with musicians adept at the performance, and frequently the composition, of sacred polyphony. The chapel served as the most visible emblem of political power and authority, impressing visiting diplomats, courtiers, and nobility with courtly civility and wealth represented by a sacred establishment highlighted by the performance of polyphony. The possession of one or more benefices served musicians as comfortable retirement plans, when it was time to end active service as a salaried member of a music chapel.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music , pp. 463 - 475Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2015