Final answer:
The Renaissance period in music lasted from around 1400 to 1600. It was characterized by a common musical language, the use of polyphony, and an emphasis on modes rather than tonality. The demand for music increased with the emergence of a bourgeois class and the invention of the Gutenberg press.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Renaissance period in music is generally considered to have started around 1400 and ended around 1600. This period is characterized by the development of a common musical language and the rise of the polyphonic style of the Franco-Flemish school. Renaissance music also saw an increasing reliance on the interval of the third and the use of larger ensembles.
One of the defining characteristics of Renaissance music is its focus on modes rather than tonality. Music of this period had a richer texture with four or more parts, and blended different strands in the musical texture rather than contrasting them. Harmony was also a significant aspect, with a greater concern for the flow and progression of chords.
The demand for music during the Renaissance increased with the invention of the Gutenberg press, allowing for wider distribution. This coincided with the emergence of a bourgeois class, and the dissemination of chansons, motets, and masses throughout Europe. The fluid style of polyphonic practice culminated in the work of composers such as Palestrina, Lassus, Victoria, and William Byrd.