The programme begins with the placing of musical development amongst the new ideas being explored during the Renaissance, such as scientific and mathematical developments pioneered by Copernicus and Galileo, the changes taking place in both the Catholic and Protestant churches, and very important in the availability of music, the development of the printing machine.

The Church in Crisis
A German priest, Martin Luther, had established a breakaway religious group known as Protestants. He had sought to make the Protestant services much more accessible to the ordinary churchgoer by using folk and well-known tunes as hymns. Even in large religious works such as The St. Matthew Passion there were opportunities for the congregation to participate in the music by singing along with the chorales. Luther also believed that all religious music should be sung in German.

As a result of this breakaway church the Catholic church realised that they were in crisis too. They created a Council called the Council of Trent, whose purpose was to set standards for the church across all aspects of their work. One key focus was to look at the importance and place of music and set appropriate standards to be aspired to. A prerequisite was that all words of the mass should be clearly understood. The Pope Marcellus Mass (Missa Papae Marcelli) by Palestrina was considered to be the embodiment of the most perfect style.

Secular Music or Music for Pleasure
As the church's grip on music was beginning to disappear, music for pleasure was beginning to emerge as a major force. Not only were full-scale works being devised, but other styles were also coming to the fore such as the motet and the madrigal, being performed by both professional and amateurs. One composer noted for his work in this style was Josquin.

The Violin
1564 also saw the development of the violin. Although there had been similar stringed instruments such as the viola da gamba, the rebec and the hurdy-gurdy, the development of the violin in the workshops of Cremona, Italy, and in particular the workshops of Andrea Amati, heralded new possibilities in string playing. Not only did the violin look beautiful as an object it also was a design classic, with the sound body providing an exciting, acoustically bold sound.

Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici of France, a former Florentine, helped promote the violin across Europe as she ordered 38 instruments from Amati. In addition she hired a virtuosic violinist to direct her orchestra. She also had a passion for ballet and dance, and her promotion of this form of music could be seen by some as the forerunner to the sonata, the symphony and the concerto.