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It is the oldest musical composition preserved to this day, with complete musical notation and text. -
Gregorian chant is a style of monophonic vocal music, meaning it consists of a single melodic line without instrumental accompaniment, used mainly in the liturgy of the Catholic Church. It is characterized by: Male voices (although today it is also performed by mixed choirs). Modality: it uses ecclesiastical modes instead of modern major or minor scales. Latin text: mainly psalms, hymns, and liturgical prayers. Free rhythm: it has no regular beat; it follows the accent of the text. -
Who was Guido d'Arezzo? Italian composer and music theorist. He was born around 991 and died around 1033. He was a Benedictine monk in Arezzo, Italy. Contributions and achievements Modern musical notation: he developed a notation system that allowed music to be read without memorizing it by ear. Invention of the tetragram: he used a primitive four-line staff, the precursor to the modern staff. Solfeggio: he introduced syllables for notes, the basis of modern solfeggio. -
Who was Hildegard von Bingen? A German Benedictine nun, writer, composer, and mystic. She was one of the first female composers whose name has been preserved with certainty in the history of Western music. Contributions and achievements Distinctive style: broad, flowing melodies, with a wider vocal range than most Gregorian chant. Important works:
Ordo Virtutum (liturgical musical drama, one of the earliest examples of Western musical theater). -
Who was Bernart de Ventadorn? He was born in Ventadorn, France, and is one of the most famous troubadours from the Occitania region. A composer and poet, he mainly sang about courtly love. Contributions and achievements Cansó and lyric poetry: he wrote songs called cansó, focusing on love, nobility, and courtly life. Refined musical style: soft and expressive melodies, influencing later European secular music. -
Ars Antiqua (Ancient Art) What it is: Period of medieval music (12th–13th centuries). Introduces polyphony, i.e., several voices singing at the same time. Evolves from monophonic Gregorian chant. Key characteristics: More precise notation than Gregorian chant. Use of organum: a second voice is added to Gregorian chant. Development of motets and conductus. Important schools: Notre-Dame in Paris (Léonin and Pérotin). Translated with DeepL.com (free version) -
Who was Pérotin? French composer active in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Prominent member of the Notre Dame School in Paris. He continued and developed the work of Léonin, another great composer of the time. Contributions and achievements Advanced polyphony: he perfected the organum, adding three and four simultaneous voices. Famous works: Viderunt omnes (organum quadruplum) Sederunt principes (organum quadruplum) -
Who was Léonin? French composer active in the mid-12th century. Considered the first great master of the Notre Dame School in Paris. Was teacher of Pérotin. Contributions and achievements Organum: he developed the two-voice organum, adding a second voice to Gregorian chant. Magnus Liber Organi: he is credited with compiling this work, which contained organum for major liturgical festivals. Rhythmic innovation: he began using rudimentary mensural notation, which Pérotin would later perfect -
Alfonso X the Wise, born in 1221, was king of Castile and León from 1252 until his death in 1284. He fostered culture, science, and the arts at his court, promoting the translation of Arabic and Hebrew texts into Latin and Romance languages. His best-known work is the Cantigas de Santa María. He also promoted the Código de las Partidas, a compilation of laws. Despite his cultural achievements, he suffered political conflicts, especially with his son Sancho IV. -
Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) was a French composer and poet, a key figure in medieval music. He was renowned for his “Messe de Nostre Dame,” one of the first complete polyphonic masses, and for his “chansons.” His poetry deals with themes of love and religion. Machaut fused tradition and stylistic innovations, influencing the development of Western music and becoming a benchmark for 14th-century polyphony. His legacy lives on in musical history. -
Ars Nova Means “new art.” 14th century in France and Italy. Advanced polyphony with complex rhythms. Characteristics of Ars Nova Advanced polyphony: several independent voices. Complex rhythms: syncopation, hemiola, and irregular subdivisions. Precise notation: allows for the exact duration of notes to be measured. Main genres: mass, motet, secular songs. Notable composers: Philippe de Vitry and Guillaume de Machaut. -
Francesco Landini (1325–1397) was an Italian composer and organist, a key figure in medieval music. Blind from a young age, he stood out for his talent at the school in Florence. His compositions, especially in the madrigal and ballata genres, were polyphonic and melodic. Landini was one of the main innovators of music in the 14th century, influencing the development of Renaissance music. His work remains a benchmark in the history of medieval music. -
Johannes Gutenberg was a German inventor and printer, famous for inventing the movable-type printing press around 1440. His invention revolutionized book production, making mass printing possible and facilitating the spread of knowledge. Gutenberg allowed texts to become accessible to a larger population, driving the expansion of the Renaissance, the Reformation, and science by enabling the widespread dissemination of ideas and information throughout Europe. -
Martin Lutero was a German theologian and reformer, best known for starting the Protestant Reformation in 1517 by posting his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church. His rejection of corruption in the Catholic Church and his emphasis on salvation by faith reshaped the religious landscape of Europe. In music, Luther was a strong advocate for congregational singing in German, promoting hymns that could be sung by all, influencing Protestant church music profoundly. -
Cristóbal de Morales was one of Spain's most important Renaissance composers. Born in Seville, he served as chapel master in several cities, including Rome. His work focused primarily on sacred music, including masses, motets, and antiphons, in a polyphonic style that influenced his time. Morales was a pioneer of Spanish polyphony, and his melodic, clear, and elegant style laid the foundations for composers like Victoria and Gutiérrez. His legacy endures in Spanish sacred music. -
Andrea Gabrieli was a Venetian composer and organist, a precursor to the famous Venetian school. His music, which ranges from motets to instrumental music, is characterized by clarity and a broad sound, using the architectural space of Venice's churches. Gabrieli influenced his nephew Giovanni Gabrieli and other Venetian composers. His work helped bridge Renaissance and Baroque music, especially in his use of contrasting voices and experiments with sound. -
Antonio de Cabezón was a Spanish composer and organist of the Renaissance, one of the most important musicians at the court of the Catholic Monarchs. Although blind from a young age, Cabezón was a virtuoso on the organ and harpsichord. His music, centered around works for keyboard and voice, includes fantasies, motets, and liturgical pieces. His works reflect the rich musical landscape of Renaissance Spain and contributed to the evolution of instrumental music at the time. -
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian composer of the Renaissance, considered one of the greatest masters of sacred music. His polyphonic choral works, especially his masses and motets, set a model for liturgical music. Palestrina achieved perfect harmony, fulfilling the ideals of the Council of Trent regarding the clarity of liturgical text. His refined and balanced style became a model for later composers and remains studied today. -
Juan del Encina was a Spanish composer, poet, and playwright of the Renaissance, one of the pioneers of Spanish musical theater. He created musical comedies at the court of the Catholic Monarchs. His villancicos and songs exemplify his innovative style and ability to blend popular music with more sophisticated elements. His work also reflected the evolution of Spanish music of the time, contributing to the consolidation of a distinct national style. -
Orlando di Lasso was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance, known for his versatility and ability to compose in various musical styles. He was the chapel master at the court of Munich, and his oeuvre includes over 2,000 compositions, including motets, madrigals, masses, and secular songs. Lasso blended Italian, French, and Flemish influences in his music and is renowned for his emotional depth and technical complexity in vocal polyphony. -
Maddalena Casulana was an Italian composer and singer, one of the first women to publish music during the Renaissance. Born in Vicenza, Casulana composed madrigals and motets, and her work is marked by a clear influence of the music of her time. Her ability to combine poetry with music made her stand out in an era dominated by men. Her publication of madrigals in 1568 was a milestone in music history, opening doors for other female composers in Western music history. -
Tomás Luis de Victoria was a Spanish composer of the Renaissance and one of the greatest figures in sacred music. His work is characterized by its deep spirituality and mastery of vocal polyphony. His liturgical compositions, such as masses and motets, are some of the most beautiful of the era. Influenced by Palestrina, Victoria was chapel master at the court of Philip II and worked at the Royal Basilica of El Escorial, establishing himself as the most prominent composer of the Spanish school. -
Giovanni Gabrieli was a Venetian composer and organist, known for his influence on the development of Baroque music. He was one of the first to use the principle of cori spezzati, or the use of separated choral groups, which allowed him to experiment with sound space in large churches. His work is known for its richness of texture and the interaction between voices and instruments. Giovanni also helped establish instrumental music as an integral part of sacred music. -
Carlo Gesualdo was an Italian composer known for his madrigals and his unique and emotional style. His music is characterized by bold use of dissonance and unexpected key changes, making it highly expressive and dramatic. Gesualdo was a nobleman and his life was marked by scandal, notably the murder of his wife and child. Despite his notorious personal life, his work remains innovative and influential in both Renaissance and early Baroque music. -
Barbara Strozzi was an Italian composer and singer of the Baroque period, born in Venice in 1619. She was adopted by the poet Giulio Strozzi, who supported her musical education. Strozzi became one of the few women in the 17th century to publish her own music, releasing eight volumes of compositions, primarily vocal works like arias and cantatas. Her music is known for its expressive style and often explores themes of love and suffering. -
Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, and priest. Known as the "Red Priest" for his red hair and clerical status. Vivaldi composed over 500 concertos, including The Four Seasons, which remains among the most famous Baroque music works. His music is characterized by energetic rhythms and vivid imagery. -
German composer and musician of the Baroque period, renowned for his intricate contrapuntal compositions. Bach’s works include The Well-Tempered Clavier, Brandenburg Concertos, and numerous cantatas and fugues. His influence on Western classical music is profound, blending technical mastery with emotional depth. -
German-British Baroque composer best known for his operas, oratorios, and concerti grossi. His famous works include Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks. Händel was a prolific composer who spent much of his career in London, shaping English music tradition. -
The talent show is changing Spanish music. It has produced David Bisbal, Rosa, Bustamante, and Chenoa, who have been national idols for years. -
Rosa de España represents the country at Eurovision. The whole country sings along to the chorus and vibrates with pride. -
The song becomes a Latin pop anthem. Bisbal becomes an international star. -
His blend of rumba, rock, and street lyrics captivates young people everywhere. -
Although Colombian, the song marked the decade in Spain; it was played on the radio, at festivals, and in stadiums. -
One of the greatest anthems of modern Spanish rock, known by all generations. -
Shakira and Spain shine at the World Cup. The 2010 World Cup song becomes a global phenomenon. -
An international hit that was a staple at every party and on every Spotify playlist. -
With Gente de Zona, he mixes pop and reggaeton; it has surpassed 3 billion views. -
Born out of the modern Operación Triunfo, it has become a feminist anthem and dance hit. -
The Madrid native mixes genres and becomes a global icon of the new Spanish sound. -
The song is revolutionizing the global scene, blending flamenco, trap, and modern aesthetics.