Medieval/ Renaissance (476-1430-1600)

Fall of Rome, Medieval Era begins (476 CE)

476

Middle Ages (476-1430s)

Period: 476 to 1430

Dissemination of Christianity through 600 CE

600

Gregorian Chant

715

Pope Gregory (ruled between 715 CE and 731 CE) reorganized and cataloged Gregorian chants, which are set neumatically and melismatically.

Polyphony and notation emerges (800s)

800

Earliest form of polyphony is organum.

Romanesque era (c. 850-1150)

Period: 850 to 1150

Organum (900 CE)

900

Extant in 800s CE, notated c. 1000 CE

• Plainchant melody with added melody.
• Musically sung piece of parallel 4ths and 5ths
• 3rds were not used because they were considered dissonant.

Guido d'Arezzo (c. 991 CE- after 1033 CE)

991

Credited with inventing the staff, suggested using a red line for F and a yellow line for C.

Hildegard Von Bingen (1098-1179)

1098

First female composer in contemporary musicology to receive extensive scholarly research. Wrote liturgical dramas and religious poetry, famous for her prophetic powers and revelations. She began to compose liturgical music and poetry in the 1140s and wrote down her visions. Music is not Gregorian Chant. Had a wider and higher range, more expressive, more interesting and wider leaps, might have been rhythmic, used poetic texts.

Leonin (fl. 1150 CE- c. 1201 CE)

1150

Cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. First composer of polyphonic music whose name we know.

Gothic period (c. 1150-1450)

Period: 1150 to 1450

Bingen: Alleluia, O virga mediatrix (1152)

1152

From the morality play Ordo virtutum, c. 1152 (“Play of Virtues”). Plainchant from the Mass Proper (Feast for the Virgin Mary)

Raimbaut de Vaqueiras (c. 1155- 1207)

1155

Wrote at least 35 poems, 7 survive with music. Killed in battle serving his patron in 1207.

Magnus liber organi (c. 1170)

1170

Compiled by Leonin.

Perotin (fl. c. 1200 CE)

1200

Cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, may have studied with Leonin.

Emergence of "Motet" (1200s)

1200

Included texts in French, Latin, or both. Focused on 6 rhythmic modes, then very complex between 1320-1400.

Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361)

1291

French priest. First composer of the Ars Nova

Emergence of Ars nova Style (1300-1350)

1300

New art style, served as a musical composition that could handle radical innovations. Complex rhythms did not last, but resurfaced in the 20th century.

Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377)

1300

French priest. Most famous composer and poet of the time. Composed more than 20 extant motets, several extant chansons. One of the first polyphonic mass cycles.

Vitry: Ars nova notandi (1322)

1322

(The New Art of Notes). Written by Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361), described the Ars nova in the first half of the 14th century. Contained musical examples.

Landini: Ecco la primavera (14th century)

1325

"Here is Spring." 2 part balleta for voice and instruments.

Francesco Landini (ca. 1325-1397)

1325

Music theorist, composer, poet, and organist; famous because he was blind. Famous Italian composer of the 14th century. *b6 cadence

Bubonic Plague (1340s- 1350s)

Period: 1340 to 1353

Also called "The Black Death," killed over 75 million people.

Machaut: Puis qu'en oubli (1350)

1350

Chanson rondeau (ABaAabAB) Modal tonality, no set system of cadences, Machaut added dissonances on the cadences.

Donatello (c. 1386-1466)

1386

Famous Italian artist, made Bronze statue of David.

John Dunstable (Dunstaple) (ca. 1390-1453)

1390

English, but influenced musical style in Europe. Composers who heard his music were impressed by the English quality. 3rds and 6ths were used in the harmonies. His complete works were not published until 1953.

Guillaume Dufay (ca. 1397-1474)

1397

First Renaissance composer

Johannes Ockeghem (ca. 1420-97)

1420

Respected composer; low bass.

Renaissance (1430-1600)

Period: 1430 to 1600

Rebirth; new complex currents of thoughts concerning arts, science, religion. Changes in art originated in Italy, musical style came out of England.

Johannes Tinctoris (c. 1435-1511)

1435

Composer and music theorist, wrote about contemporary music. Wrote the first dictionary of musical terms.

Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510)

1444

Famous Italian artist, painted the Birth of Venus (1485-86)

Dunstable: Puisque M'Amour (first half of the 15th century)

1450

Attributed to Dunstable, difficult for musicologists to date his pieces.

Josquin des Prez (c. 1450-1521)

1450

Most revered Renaissance composer, especially by Martin Luther.

Heinrich Isaac (ca. 1450-1517)

1450

Prolific German composer

Josquin des Prez (ca. 1450-1521)

1450

From Northern France, served in Italian court. Composed over 100 motets, 17 masses, many French chansons, and Italian secular songs are extant.

Josquin des Prez (ca. 1450-1521)

1450

Known for his chansons.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

1452

Artist, painted the Mona Lisa and The Annunciation, moving away from Biblical into Humanistic point of view.

Erasmus (c. 1466-1536)

1466

Dutch scholar-philosopher

Shift to Choral Music

1469

Chorals singing music, rather than soloists on different parts.

Tinctoris: Diffinitorum musices (c. 1475)

1475

Dictionary of musical terms.

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)

1475

Artist who created the "Pieta" statue (1499). At the Vatican, Marble.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, virgo serena (c. 1480)

1480

Example of imitative polyphonic motet. This style of a capella vocal polyphony begins an era of choral polyphony that characterizes the Renaissance style.

Raphael (1483-1520)

1483

Artist who painted the "Madonna della Tenda" (1514).

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

1483

German religious reformer

Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488-1576)

1488

Artist, painted "The Three Ages of Man"

Adrian Willaert (ca. 1490-1562)

1490

Father of text expression

Emergence of Frottola (1500-1530s)

1500

Precursor to the madrigal and Baroque fugue. "Pop music" of the later Renaissance.

Petrucci; Early publishing of frottola (1504-1511)

1504

Ottaviano Petrucci was one of the most important early publishers, published 11 volumes of frottola between 1504-1511.

Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

1505

English composer who wrote a 40-piece monet.

Jacques Arcadelt (ca. 1507-1568)

1507

One of the earliest Italian madrigal composers, worked in French and Italian courts. Composed over 250 madrigals, 125 French chansons, and sacred music.

Reformation begins

1517

Martin Luther begins the Protestant movement known as the Reformation. Lutheranism grew popularity in Norther German cities and new music was written for these services.

Philipp de Monte (1521-1603)

1521

Prolific composer of the Renaissance

Palestrina (1525-1594)

1525

The most famous composer from the Renaissance.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-94)

1525

Composer with posthumous fame.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-94)

1525

Rose to the challenges of the Council of Trent. The church wanted everything homorhythmic and homophonic. Palestrina continued using polyphony, showing he could make any texture understood. Composed over 104 masses. His Pope Marcellus Mass met the religious goals called for the reform.

Pablo Veronese (1528-1588)

1528

Pained "The Allegory of Wisdom and Strength" (1580)

Emergence of Madrigals (1530s-1600)

1530

Italian Madrigal (1530)

1530

Originated in Florence circa 1530 as a form of aristocratic entertainment. One voice on each part. Sometimes instruments would play a voice part.

Emergence of the Italian Madrigal (1530s+)

1530

Used aristocratic poetry and flourished in Italian courts. Spread to England. Instruments participated, but were rarely notated.
First madrigals were homorhythmic and 4 solo voices. 5 solo voices became the norm around 1550; by 1600 no restrictions
***Became the experimental genre for the Baroque style

Orlando di Lasso (1532-94)

1532

Composer who ranks in importance with Josquin and Palestrina.

William Byrd (1543-1623)

1543

Important Catholic English composer working in Protestant England. Harassed because of his faith. Queen Elizabeth favored him, which offered him protection. Wrote several anthem (hymn, choral). Composed important keyboard music, 3 extant masses and lots of Protestant music.

Counter Reformation (1545-1563)

Period: 1545 to 1563

The Council of Trent set new guidelines for the Catholic church and musicians.

1. Words could be clearly understood.
2. They wanted all things secular gone from the church.(No more pub tunes.)
3. They wanted the musicians to act in a reverent manner.

Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)

1548

Carries on Palestrina’s style while working in Spain

Giovanni Gabrieli (ca. 1557-1612)

1557

Leading composer of instrumental ensemble music and polychoral works in the late Renaissance. Moved to Venice in 1585 to take the position of organist at St. Mark’s Cathedral. Composed over 100 motets (many polychoral) and other instrumental works. Canzonas and sonatas were new genres. One of the first composers to indicate the instruments he wanted in the score, sometimes indicate dynamics. Instrumental music was for ensembles.

Shakespeare (1564-1616)

1564

Wrote plays; songs were composed for his plays

Galileo (1564-1642)

1564

Famous scientist

Palestrina: Pope Marcellus Mass (1567)

1567

Supposedly written to satisfy the Council of Trent for 6 a cappella voices. Polyphonic and homorhythmic.

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

1567

Composer who moved music from the Renaissance style to the Baroque. One of the founders of operas, wrote 9 books of madrigals. Used new style involving one voice.

John Farmer (ca. 1570-1603)

1570

English composer and organist who lived in London and Dublin. Known for clever word painting.

Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643)

1583

Organist of the Early Baroque, influence of J.S. Bach. Worked at St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.

Baroque Period (1590s-1730s)

Period: 1590 to 1730

Gabrieli: Canzona septimi toni (1597)

1597

From his large collection called Sacred Symphonies (Symphonies not meaning anything like today, just playing together); 2 choirs of instruments – each in 4 parts:8 musical lines interacting with each other in polyphony, sometimes creating homorhythm. “Cori spezzati” (split choirs) = the practice of breaking up a choir into more parts for more musical lines

Farmer: Fair Phyllis (published 1599)

1599

Composed by John Farmer. 4 solo voices, used the word painting device. "all alone," "up and down", in his madrigal.

Emergence of Opera (1600)

1600

Opera was invented in Florence, Italy by the Florentine Camerata.