Final answer:
The Council of Trent had a significant impact on sacred music by promoting clarity and intelligibility in the lyrics, restoring the Gregorian chant, and regulating and standardizing the composition and performance of sacred music.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Council of Trent is widely regarded as one of the most significant events in the history of sacred music. The decrees issued by the Council had a profound impact on the composition and performance of sacred music. One of the key goals of the Council was to address the issues raised by the Protestant Reformation and to reaffirm the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
The Council of Trent decrees about sacred music had several major impacts:
- Clarity and intelligibility: The Council emphasized the importance of making the lyrics of sacred music easily understandable for the faithful. Composers were encouraged to avoid excessive ornamentation and complex musical techniques that might obscure the text.
- Restoration of the Gregorian chant: The Council recognized the historical and spiritual significance of the Gregorian chant and called for its revival. Chant became the ideal model for composing new sacred music, and efforts were made to preserve and propagate this ancient form of music.
- Regulation and standardization: The Council aimed to establish standards for the composition and performance of sacred music. It called for the establishment of music schools and the training of musicians who would adhere to the Church's guidelines. This led to the emergence of a more standardized and unified style of sacred music across Catholic churches.