Final answer:
The incorrect statement about the typical Renaissance church choir is that women sang the upper voices while men sang the lower. This era predominantly featured all-male choirs with boy sopranos or falsettists for the higher parts, and male altos or countertenors for the alto parts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that does NOT describe the typical church choir of the Renaissance is: 'Women sang the upper voices, and men sang the lower voices.' This statement is incorrect because, during the Renaissance, choirs were typically all male. The upper voices, such as the soprano and alto parts, were usually sung by boys (boy sopranos, sometimes called trebles) or by men using a falsetto technique (falsettists), and male altos or countertenors. Women generally did not sing in church choirs during that period.
A significant aspect of the Renaissance music era was the polyphonic texture, where multiple vocal lines were independent and equally important. This musical style required a broader vocal range from singers and led to the intricate involvement of all male voice types in choral settings.