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The Medieval era in Western music began around 500 CE and lasted until approximately 1400. It includes Gregorian chant, early polyphony, and the development of musical notation.
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Guido of Arezzo, an Italian Benedictine monk, wrote Micrologus, a treatise that introduced the four-line staff and solmization (the precursor to solfege). This greatly improved music literacy.
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From 1098-1179, Hildegard was a German abbess, composer, and mystic. One of the earliest known female composers, her works include chants and liturgical music notable for their originality and expressiveness.
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Written by Philippe de Vitry, Ars Nova introduced innovations in rhythm and notation that allowed for greater rhythmic complexity, marking a shift in musical style in 14th-century France.
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From 1400-1600 CE, The Renaissance was a period of rebirth in arts and culture. In music, it featured smoother polyphony, a focus on text expression, and the rise of secular genres like the madrigal.
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Martin Luther's famous chorale “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” became an anthem of the Reformation, written to be sung by congregations in the vernacular.
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This madrigal by Jacques Arcadelt is one of the most famous early Italian madrigals. It blends expressive text-setting with elegant polyphony and helped popularize the genre.
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Published by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, this Mass is traditionally credited with preserving polyphony in the Catholic Church by demonstrating its clarity and spiritual power during the Council of Trent.
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A Mass setting by Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria, based on his earlier motet. It's a brilliant example of late Renaissance sacred music marked by expressive intensity.