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Music in the Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries) was dominated by Gregorian chant (religious, monophonic, in Latin) and the later rise of polyphony. At the same time, troubadours and minstrels cultivated secular music about courtly love. -
Renaissance music is characterized by a soft sound that derives from the acceptance of the third as a consonant harmonic interval (joining fifths and octaves, already accepted in the Middle Ages) and from the progressive increase in the number of voices, all of equal importance and governed by the rules -
Baroque music is a European style characterized by ornamentation, dramatic contrast, the use of basso continuo, and tonality. It marked the birth of opera, the concerto, and the suite, with such luminaries as Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Frideric Handel. -
Classical music was a refined European style, based on balance, clarity, and simplicity, influenced by the Enlightenment and Neoclassicism. Led by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven in Vienna, it consolidated sonata form, the symphony, and the string quartet, replacing the Baroque basso continuo with a clear, accompanied melody. -
Romanticism, which flourished roughly between 1810 and the early 20th century, was a period in classical music that prioritized emotional expression, individuality, and virtuosity, reacting against the balance of the Classical era. Characterized by passionate melodies, complex harmonies, and the expansion of the orchestra, the style sought to portray the inner world, nature, and the ineffable. -
Music from the 20th century to the present has undergone a radical transformation, moving from tonal rupture and the rise of jazz/blues to the mainstreaming of rock, pop, hip-hop, and finally, to the electronic/digital urban era. Technology has been key, changing music production and consumption, shifting from vinyl records to massive festivals and streaming.