Question

With the exception of scholars of the last two decades, what function were love songs assumed to serve in settings of the Mass Ordinary?

Answer 1

Love songs were not typically included in settings of the Mass Ordinary during the Renaissance period, which focused primarily on religious themes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In settings of the Mass Ordinary during the Renaissance period, love songs were not typically included. The principal liturgical forms during this time were masses and motets, which were primarily focused on religious themes.

However, towards the end of the Renaissance, some composers of sacred music began to adopt secular forms, such as the madrigal. These secular forms may have included love songs, but they were not commonly used in the settings of the Mass Ordinary.