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Period: 500 to 1450
Medieval Period
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1030
Guido de Arezzo writes Micrologus
Guido's book Micrologus introduced the hexacord system, a 4 line staff, and solfege indicated by the guidonian hand. -
1098
Hildegard von Bingen born
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1179
Hildegard von Bingen death
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1323
Ars Nova Treatise
The Ars Nova Treatise standardized rhythm notation, both by labeling duration of notes using breve, semi breve, and minim, and by notating time signature for both triple and duple meters. -
Period: 1450 to
The Renaissance
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1485
Josquin writes the motet "Ave Maria ... virgo serena"
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1529
Martin Luther writes the chorale "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott"
Translation: A mighty Fortress is Our God -
1538
Arcadelt writes the madrigal "Il bianco e dolce cigno"
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1567
Palestrina publishes the Pope Marcellus Mass
Allegedly, Palestrina wrote this piece to prove to that sacred texts could be understood in polyphonic music. This piece became/ still is the model for composing counterpoint. -
1572
Victoria composes the motet "Missa O magnum mysterium"
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Gabrieli composes "Sonata pian' e forte"
This piece is tone of the first known pieces to notate dynamic markings. Sonata in this piece refers to the fact it is for instruments, not to be sung. It also uses antiphonal composition techniques that sounded particularly good in St. Mark's Basilica, where Gabrieli worked. -
Period: to
Baroque Period
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Monteverdi's L’Orfeo Written
Music not published until 1609 and revised 1615. -
Period: to
First Public Concerts in England
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Period: to
JS Bach's Lifetime
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Antonio Vivaldi's L’Estro Armonico published
Published by Etienne Roger in Amsterdam. Significantly influenced concerto form. -
Rameau's Traité de l’harmonie published
became basis of teaching functional harmony (and as a result, western music theory). -
Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier volume 1
Used equal temperament, and along with volume 2 used all 24 major and minor keys. -
Period: to
Franz Joseph Haydn lifetime
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Handel's Messiah Completed
Premiered in Dublin in 1742 in Lenten season. -
Period: to
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Lifetime
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Period: to
Viennese Classical Period
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Period: to
Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges as director of Concerts des Amateurs
Saint-Georges was an African-Frenchman conducting what was considered to be one of the finest orchestras of the time. -
Mozart's Don Giovanni premieres
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Haydn's Symphony No. 94 "Surprise" Premiere
Premieres in London -
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor premieres
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Schubert Erlkönig (composition date)
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Nicolo Paganini 24 Caprices for Violin, op.1 (complete first publication)
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Berlioz Symphonie fantastique (composition date)
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Period: to
Frederic Chopin Mazurkas Op.7 (composition date range)
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Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel Das Jahr (composition date)
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Louis Moreau Gottschalk Souvenir de Porto Rico
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Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition composed
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Bizet's opera Carmen premieres
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Period: to
Premire(s) of Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen
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Brahms' Symphony No.4 Premieres
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Mahler Symphony No.1 (premiere)
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Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" composed
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Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag (published)
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Jean Sibelius' Finlandia (premiere)
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Claude Debussy's Voiles” from Préludes Book 1
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Arnold Schönberg's Pierrot Lunaire
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Igor Stravinsky's Le sacre du Printemps (premiere)
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Arnold Schönberg's Piano Suite, Op.25
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Louis Armstrong's "Hotter Than That"
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George and Ira Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" (published)
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Shostakovich Symphony No.5 premiere
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Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky (film)
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Duke Ellington's Cottontail
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Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour le fine du temps
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Bela Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra
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Copland Appalachian Spring
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John Cage's 4’33’’ premeire
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Edward Varese Poeme Electronique
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Miles Davis Kind of Blue
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George Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children
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John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine