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The Medieval Period, also commonly known as the Middle Ages, is the period in Europe following the fall of Western Rome and preceding the Renaissance. It is during this time that the sacred plainchant used in the Church evolved into Gregorian chant, and eventually into organum and motets. In the secular world, troubadours/trouvères and jongleurs were popular. The latter Medieval period saw the development of the French ars nova, the music of the Italian trecento, and English polyphony.
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Guido's works served to codify the principles of Gregorian chant. He is also credited with inventing solfège. -
Hildegard is noted for being the most prolific medieval European composer. She was known for her prophecies regarding important royal and religious figures. She set her poetry to original plainchant compositions.
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This is known as the defining work of the French ars nova style, a period of development and innovation, as well as the introduction of isorhythm. -
The Renaissance was a period of renewed cultural, philosophical, and academic development following the socioeconomic turbulence of the late Middle Ages. This period saw further developments in polyphony, the growing prominence of instrumental music, the development of national and vernacular styles, and a bifurcation in sacred music practice corresponding with the Reformation and Counter-reformation.
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Martin Luther, founder of Lutheranism and central figure of the Protestant Reformation, was also a composer. "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott," a monophonic chorale typical of the Lutheran tradition, was the most famous of his works. -
This is a madrigal by Franco-Flemish composer Jacob Arcadelt. The text, carefully colored and accentuated by the music, explores death as a metaphor for sensual euphoria. Madrigals of this time were settings of high poetry that were easily sightread and written for the purposes of amateur performance. -
This mass is credited with convincing the Council of Trent that polyphony and counterpoint were not necessarily at odds with the intelligibility of text in sacred works. The Pope Marcellus Mass exemplifies Palestrina's style of dissonance and resolution, as well as melodic conventions like the "Palestrina arch." Palestrina's works would lay the foundation for the whole future of Western music theory. -
This imitative mass, or parody mass, was based on one of Victoria's previous motets. It artfully executes Palestrina-style counterpoint, while being more daring with chromaticism. -
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This was the first printed set of Vivaldi concerti. -
The Traite de l'harmonie is a central document in the development of common-practice music theory. -
Using equal temperament, Bach wrote preludes and fugues in all 24 keys. -
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Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, being of mixed French and Saint-Domingue race, was a well-respected and pioneering figure in the music scene of the French court.
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