Final answer:
The English madrigals are indeed lighter and more humorous compared to the often more expressive and complex Italian madrigals. The Renaissance period's modal music gradually evolved into tonality, with root motions of fifths playing a key role.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that English madrigals have a lighter and more humorous tone than Italian madrigals is true. During the Renaissance, the Italian madrigal, a secular genre, was known for its expressive and often complex melodies, which served as a reflection of the text's emotion. In contrast, English madrigals tended to be lighter in spirit and commonly included pastoral themes and nonsensical elements, which they conveyed through simple and catchy melodies.
Another distinctive feature of Renaissance music was its modal characteristics, which over time allowed for the breakdown towards a greater use of root motions of fifths. This evolution was significant in the development of tonality, a fundamental aspect of Western music that followed in the Baroque period.