to understand the technique of paraphrasing an earlier melody

to listen for melodic paraphrase and homophonic texture in a Renaissance hymn

to understand the imitative polyphony at the heart of the high Renaissance style

to gain an overview of the Mass, the most important element of Christian liturgy

to listen to polyphonic settings of individual prayers or sections of the Mass by Josquin Desprez and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

to understand the new Renaissance emphasis on musical expression, and to hear it at work in a madrigal by Thomas Weelkes

to witness the growing importance of instrumental music, especially dances