Medieval & Renaissance Era

By falling.moo
  • Period: Jan 1, 1201 to Dec 31, 1300

    Events in the 13th Century

    Gunpowder was introduced into Europe, speculated going along the Silk Road coming from the Middle East. Compasses were invented to make traveling more precise and easy. Art being made had more elements of realism. Architecture was evolving and more dedication was being put into palaces rather than building churches. The main publishing houses for music were located in Venice, Paris, and Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1301 to Dec 31, 1500

    Italian Artistry (14th-15th Century)

    Many speculate that Italy was the core of the Renaissance Era because of the major works of art being produced by people there at that time. Famous artists include Donatello, Rafael, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Tiziano Vecellio, and Paolo Veronese.
  • 1390

    John Dunstaple

    Dunstaple (1390-1453) was an English composer from the 15th century. He used 3rd and 6th chords in this music, which lead to many to speculate is what lead to music with heavily written triads. His works were discovered in manuscripts from Italy and Germany, but his complete works were only published way later in 1953. Because of this, musicologists have a hard time dating his pieces. Only around fifty pieces are known to be written by Dunstaple.
  • 1397

    Guillaume Dufay

    Dufay (1397-1474) was the first Renaissance composer.
  • 1420

    Johannes Ockegem

    Ockegem (1420-1497) was a very respected prolific and had a low bass voice.
  • Period: 1430 to

    The Renaissance

    There are more conclusions and thoughts surrounding music, art, and religion. It was considered an "artistic awakening" and there were explorations of science and the world. A shift from religion and God was made to focusing on the ways humans were/acted and nature. Renaissance often "sampled" older music (cantus firmus) while creating fuller and more complete sounds. Most jobs involving music were for men only, such as choirmasters, composers, teachers, instrument builders, and more.
  • 1435

    Johannes Tinctoris

    Tinctoris (1435-1511) was a well known composer and music theorist. He is known for writing the "first dictionary of musical terms" in 1475. In approximately 1470, he believed that he created a new style of music, taking inspiration from the artist John Dunstaple.
  • 1450

    Josquin des Prez

    Prez (1450-1521) was the most referred Renaissance composer, especially mentioned by Martin Luther. He was from Northern France, but served in Italian courts. He was considered ahead of his time, the music he created was full of emotion and so successful that others tried to plagiarize his music. He wrote over one hundred motets, seventeen masses, numerous French chansons, and Italian secular songs. "Pangue lingua" Mass included his more popular pieces.
  • 1452

    The Birth of Leonardo da Vinci

    One of the most famous artists in the Renaissance Era, most known for this painting "Mona Lisa". He passed away in 1519.
  • 1505

    Thomas Tallis

    Tallis (1505-1585) was "one of the greatest" English composers. He is known for writing pieces with heavy voice parts, for example "Spem in Alium", which had forty different voice parts.
  • 1517

    Martin Luther begins the Protestant movement (the Reformation)

  • 1525

    The Birth of Palestrina

    Born in 1525 and then dying in 1594, Palestrina was the most famous composer in the Renaissance era. He heavily influenced the the progression of music being developed for the Roman Catholic Church, who wanted the music to be mostly homorhythmic. However, Palestrina still used polyphone to show off his knowledge of musical texture. He wrote over 104 masses and his knowledge is still being taught. He wrote a mass that was both homorhythmic and polyohonic (Pope Marcellus Mass)
  • 1530

    The First Madrigal

    Madrigal is a form of choral chamber music. The first one was noted to be in the 14th century, coming from Italy. It did not become popular until the 16th century and internationally recognized in the 17th century.
  • Period: 1545 to 1563

    The Council of Trent sent new guidelines for music

  • 1562

    Adrian Willaert

    Willaert (1490-1562) was considered the "Father of text expression"
  • 1564

    The Birth of Shakespeare

    Shakespeare (1564-1616) is the most famous poet to come out of the Renaissance Era. His writings and plays were used as inspirations for music, songs, stories, and other creative adaptions.

  • Girolamo Frescobaldi

    Frescobaldi (1583-1643) was considered the finest Baroque era organist.
  • Period: to

    The Baroque Period

    The Baroque period of music was meant to be quirky, unique, and not "well-mannered" in composition. It is divided into three parts: the beginning, middle, and end. Various types of keyboards were included as well such as the harpsichord, clavichord, organ, and virginal. Baroque music was written for both vocalists and instrumentalists.