Comporsers

Martin Luther

1483 BCE

Martin Luther was a German monk, theologian, and key figure in the Protestant Reformation during the 16th century. Born in 1483, he challenged the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences, by nailing his 95 Theses to a church door in 1517. Luther's ideas sparked widespread religious reform, emphasizing salvation through faith alone and the authority of the Bible. His translation of the Bible into German made it accessible to a broader audience.

Gregoria chant

800

Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic, unacommpained sacred song in Latin of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian chant developed mainly in the western and central Europe during the 9th and 10th centuries, with later additions and redactions. Although popular legend credits Pope Gregory I with inventing Gregorian chant, scholars believe that it arose from a later Carolingian synthesis of the Old Roman chant and Gallician chant.

Guido d'arezzo

992

Guido d'Arezzo was an Italian music theorist and teacher, renowned for developing the musical staff notation system. Living during the medieval period, he faced challenges in teaching and memorizing Gregorian chants. To simplify this process, he introduced a four-line staff, assigning each line and space a specific pitch. Additionally, Guido invented solmization syllables (do, re, mi) to aid singing and sight-reading.

Hildegard von bingen

1089

Hildegard von Bingen was a German medieval polymath. She excelled as a composer, theologian, mystic, and herbalist. Hildegard composed liturgical music, including the renowned "Ordo Virtutum," and wrote on theology, producing visionary works such as "Scivias." Recognized for her mystical experiences, she corresponded with influential figures of her time.

Alfonso X el Sabio

1121

Alfonso X, known as Alfonso the Wise, was a 13th-century monarch in the Kingdom of Castile and Leon, part of modern-day Spain. He ascended the throne in 1252, gaining recognition for his cultural and intellectual contributions. Alfonso patronized scholars and initiated the Alfonsine School, fostering advancements in astronomy, medicine, and law.

Bernart de Ventadorn

1130

Bernart de Ventadorn was a medieval troubadour, a poet-musician from Occitania (southern France). Renowned for his courtly love poetry, he served various noble courts, including that of Eleanor of Aquitaine. His lyrics often explored themes of unattainable love, chivalry, and devotion.

Leonin

1150

Leonin, also known as Leoninus, was a medieval composer associated with the Notre fDame School of polyphony in the 12th century. He played an important role in the development of early Western classical music, particularly in the context of organum. Leonin's significant contribution is found in the "Magnus Liber Organi"

Perotin

1155

Perotin was a medieval French composer associated with the Notre-Dame School of polyphony during the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Renowned for his contributions to Ars Antiqua, Perotin played a pivotal role in the development of polyphonic music. His innovative techniques included the use of organum, where multiple voices sang in intricate patterns.

Ars anquia

1170

Ars antiqua is a term used by modern scholars to refer to the Medieval music of Europe during the High Middle Ages, between approximately 1170 and 1310. This covers the period of the Notre-Dame school of polyphony, and the subsequent years which saw the early development of the motet, a highly varied choral musical composition. Usually the term ars antiqua is restriced to sacred or polyphonic music, excluding the secular monophonic songs of the troubadours and trouvères.

Guillaume de Machaut

1300

Guillaume de Machaut was a French medieval poet and composer. Renowned as a key figure in the Ars Nova musical and literary movement, he contributed significantly to the development of polyphonic music. Machaut's compositions include secular and sacred works, with his notable Messe de Nostre Dame considered one of the earliest complete settings of the Ordinary of the Mass by a single composer.

Ars nova

1318

Ars Nova, a Latin term meaning "new art," refers to a 14th-century European musical movement, especially in France and Italy. It emerged as an innovation in musical notation and artistic expression. Characterized by more complex rhythms, new musical forms, and an emphasis on the composer's individual expression.

Francesco Landini

1325

Francesco Landini was an Italian composer, organist, and poet of the late medieval era. Renowned for his contributions to the ars nova musical style, Landini was a blind musician who played a key role in the cultural and artistic life of 14th-century Florence. He composed secular and sacred music, with a focus on madrigals.

Johannes Gutenberg

1400

Johannes Gutenberg was a German inventor and printer who introduced printing to Europe with his mechanical movable-type printing press around 1440. His innovation revolutionized the production of books and facilitated the spread of knowledge, laying the foundation for the Renaissance, Reformation, and the Age of Enlightenment. Gutenberg's invention enabled the mass production of books, making them more affordable and accessible.

Juan del encina

1468

Juan del Encina was a Spanish poet, musician, and playwright during the Renaissance. Renowned as a leading figure in the Spanish Golden Age, Encina's works primarily revolved around pastoral and dramatic themes. He served in the court of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, contributing significantly to the development of Spanish secular music.

Cristóbal de morales

1500

Cristóbal de Morales was a Spanish composer of the Renaissance known for his significant contributions to sacred polyphony. His compositions, including masses, motets, and chansons, reflect a mastery of counterpoint and harmonic innovation. Morales held prominent positions in Spain and Rome, serving in the Papal Chapel and later as a choir director in Seville. Known for his emotionally expressive and intricate compositions.

Antonio de cabezón

1510

Antonio de Cabezón was a Spanish composer and organist of the Renaissance era. Known for his keyboard and instrumental works, he served the Spanish royal court as organist to several monarchs. Cabezón's compositions, particularly for the harpsichord and organ, reflected the prevailing musical styles of his time, showcasing a blend of Gothic and Renaissance elements.

Palestrina

1525

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an influential Italian Renaissance composer and musician. Known for his polyphonic choral works, he played a pivotal role in shaping Western classical music. Palestrina's compositions, particularly his Masses and motets, exemplified a balanced and harmonious style that sought to preserve the clarity of sacred texts.

Orlando di Lasso

1532

Orlando di Lasso was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance era. Known for his versatile and prolific output, Lasso's musical compositions ranged from sacred to secular, including masses, motets, and chansons. Serving various European courts, he spent significant time in Munich as the court composer for Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria.

Andrea Gabrieli

1532

Andrea Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist of the Renaissance period. Known for his contributions to Venetian polychoral music, he played an important role in the development of the Venetian School. Serving as the principal organist at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Gabrieli crafted grand, spatially distributed compositions that exploited the unique acoustics of the church.

Maddalena Casulana

1590

Maddalena Casulana was an Italian composer and lutenist during the Renaissance. Recognized as the first female composer to have her music printed and published, Casulana broke gender barriers in a male-dominated field. Born in Siena, her works include madrigals and other vocal compositions that showcase her musical prowess. Casulana's achievements challenged societal norms, contributing to the evolving role of women in the arts during her time.

Tomas Luis de Victoria

1611

Tomás Luis de Victoria was a Spanish Renaissance composer and one of the most prominent figures in sacred polyphony. Known for his choral compositions, Victoria's works epitomize the late Renaissance style. He spent much of his life in Rome, where he served as a priest and musician. Victoria's compositions, including motets and masses, exhibit a deep religious fervor and a mastery of counterpoint.

Giovanni Gabrieli

1612

Giovanni Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist of the late Renaissance. Known for his innovative contributions to the Venetian School of music, he played an important role in the development of the Baroque style. Gabrieli's compositions, particularly for brass instruments, showcased elaborate use of multiple choirs and spatial arrangements, anticipating the grandiose style of the Baroque period.