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Is considered the oldest surviving complete musical composition in the world. The epitaph is dedicated by a man named Seikilos to his wife, Euterpe. The poem says: "While you live, shine.
Let nothing grieve you beyond measure.
For your life is short,
And time will claim its due." -
Gregorian chant is one of the earliest and purest styles of Western music, it's used in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. It developed mainly during the 9th–10th centuries, though its roots reach back to much earlier Christian and Jewish chant traditions. -
An Italian monk who invented staff notation and the do–re–mi system, making it possible to read and teach music accurately. -
A Troubadour from southern France who composed secular love songs in the Occitan language. He helped popularize the ideal of courtly love in medieval poetry and music. -
A German abbess, mystic, and composer who wrote sacred monophonic chants. She is one of the earliest known female composers and combined spirituality, music, and poetry. -
Ars Antiqua is used by music historians to describe the style of European music the late 12th to the late 13th century. Motet – polyphonic compositions with multiple texts. Sometimes in different languages. Conductus – newly composed; no existing compositions are used. Organum – a plainchant melody with added voices. -
A French composer, the first known polyphonic composer. He worked at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and wrote two-voice organum for church use. -
was one of the most important composers of the Notre Dame School of Polyphony in Paris. He’s often considered one of the first known composers of complex polyphonic music in the Western tradition. -
A Spanish king who promoted learning and the arts. He sponsored the Cantigas de Santa María, a large collection of monophonic songs honoring the Virgin Mary. -
A French composer and poet of the Ars Nova period. He wrote polyphonic Masses, motets, and secular songs, including the first complete polyphonic setting of the Mass Ordinary. -
An Italian composer and organist, the leading figure of Italian Trecento music. Known for his lyrical ballate and the “Landini cadence”, his music is graceful and expressive. -
Ars Nova refers to the musical style that prospered in Europe—especially France—during the 14th century, succeeding the earlier Ars Antiqua (“the old art”). The term comes from the treatise Ars nova (c. 1320) by the composer and theorist Philippe de Vitry, which described the new rhythmic and notational innovations of the time. -
He was German inventor who created the first successful printing press with movable type. His invention made books faster and cheaper to produce and helped spread ideas across Europe. -
A German monk and religious reformer who started the Protestant Reformation. He also loved music and encouraged people to sing in church. He helped create the Lutheran chorale (simple hymns for everyone to sing). -
A Spanish poet, playwright, and musician. He is considered the father of Spanish theatre. He also wrote popular songs and villancicos. -
Another important Spanish composer of church music. He worked in Rome and wrote very elegant polyphonic pieces that influenced later Spanish composers. -
He was blind Spanish composer and organist. He wrote beautiful keyboard music and worked for the Spanish royal family. He is one of the most important early musicians for organ and harpsichord. -
An Italian composer and singer. She was the first woman to publish an entire book of music under her own name. She wrote expressive madrigals. -
He was Italian composer known for very smooth and peaceful church music. His style became a model for how Catholic sacred music should sound. -
He was an Italian composer from Venice. He wrote festive choral and instrumental music, often performed in St. Mark’s Basilica. -
One of the most famous and active composers of the Renaissance. He traveled across Europe and wrote hundreds of pieces, both sacred and secular, in many different languages. -
an Italian nobleman and composer known for very dramatic and unusual madrigals. His music uses bold harmonies that sound surprisingly modern for the Renaissance. -
A Spanish composer and priest. He wrote emotional and intense sacred vocal music. Many people consider him the greatest Spanish composer of the Renaissance. -
Andrea’s nephew. He expanded the Venetian style with multiple choirs placed in different parts of the church, creating powerful echo effects. He was also one of the first composers to write specific instructions for instruments.