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33,000 BCE
Flute
The flute is a reed-less, typically treble woodwind instrument commonly made of wood or metal. It is played by blowing over or into a mouthpiece, and covering a series of holes to create different notes. The invention of the flute dates back to a bone flute found in Germany, estimated to be made in 33,000 BC. -
1500 BCE
Trumpet
The trumpet is a brass instrument constructed of metal. It has three "buttons" on top that are used to manipulate airflow through the instrument. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece, and manipulating your breath and pressing the buttons to create different notes. It is estimated to be invented in Egypt around 1500 BC. -
500 BCE
Maraca
The maraca is a handheld percussion instrument constructed of wood. It has many small objects inside a large bulb, and is typically played in pairs, one in each hand. It is played by simply shaking the maraca by its handle to produce a percussion sound. It is estimated to be invented in Chile around 500 BC. -
600
Taiko Drum
The taiko drum is a large percussion instrument constructed of wood and animal skins. It is played by hitting the drum with a large mallet to produce a large, low drum sound. It is estimated to be invented in Japan around 600 AD. -
1300
Marimba
The marimba is a percussion instrument usually constructed out of wood. It has many wood beams of different lengths that produce notes when hit. It is played by hitting the beams with a mallet to produce different notes. It is estimated to be invented somewhere in Africa around 1300 AD, although it is likely to be much older than that. -
1396
Mass
The Mass was and still is a form of music, popularized during the Renaissance period. It is typically used in the context of the Catholic Church, although some other groups have adopted it. It is usually a form of Christian text sung by a choir. Guillaume Dufay was a key composer of the Mass. -
1397
Guillaume Dufay
Guillaume Dufay was a composer from the Renaissance period. He was born in 1397 in Belgium, and died on November 27, 1474. He is thought to have created the technique of fauxbourdon, and is noted for his many masses and motets. -
1399
Motet
The Motet is a form of mostly Christian music that began to rise in popularity during the Renaissance period. It usually consisted of choral music, but sometimes could be adapted to a soloist. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was a key Renaissance composer of the Motet. -
1400
Chanson
The Chanson was a form of music curated before and during the Renaissance period. It was very simple, often containing only a single voice, nothing more. Josquin des Prez was a key composer to this form of music. -
1450
Josquin Des Prez
Josquin Des Prez was a composer from the Romantic period. He was born in 1450 in northeastern France, and died on August 27, 1521. He is considered to be one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance period, and is most well known for his masses and motets. -
1452
Pierre de La Rue
Pierre de La Rue was a composer from the Renaissance period. He was born in what is now Belgium in 1452, and died on November 20, 1518. He is most well known for his masses, including one of the earliest known Requiem masses. -
Period: 1492 to
Renaissance Music Examples
Missa L'Homme armé super voces musicales - Mass by Josquin des Prez, ~1492 Spem In Alium - Motet by Thomas Tallis, ~1570 Stabat Mater - Motet by Giovanni Palestrina, ~1591 -
1500
Guitar
The guitar is a stringed instrument usually constructed of wood. It typically has six strings, but can have more or less. It is played by holding in the lap while sitting, or by the abdomen while standing, and plucking the strings, holding down different strings to create different notes. It was invented in Spain around 1500 AD. -
1510
Recorder
The recorder is an extremely simple reed-less woodwind instrument. It is similar to a flute, but made of plastic, and commonly played by children. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece and covering a small amount of holes to create different notes. It was invented in Germany around 1510. -
1540
Bassoon
The bassoon is a double-reed, bass woodwind instrument typically made of wood or metal. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece and covering a series of very difficultly placed holes to produce different notes. The bassoon was invented in Italy in 1540. -
1550
Viola
The viola is a very small, treble, four-stringed instrument usually constructed of wood. It is played by holding up to the neck, and running a bow over the strings, holding down different strings to create different notes. It was invented in Italy in 1550 AD. -
1550
Violin
The violin is a small, treble, four-stringed instrument usually constructed out of wood. It is played by holding it up to the neck, running a bow over the strings, and holding down different strings to create notes. It was invented in Italy in 1550 AD. -
1550
Chello
The chello is a bass, four-stringed instrument usually constructed of wood. It is held in an upright position, and played by running a bow over the strings, holding down different strings to create notes. It was invented in Italy in 1550 AD. -
1562
John Dowland
John Dowland was a composer from the Renaissance period. He was born in 1562 in London, and died on January 21, 1626. He made more than eighty pieces for the lute, and was widely known for his famous piece 'Lachrimae'. -
Trombone
The trombone is a brass instrument constructed of metal. It has a long slider used to manipulate airflow through the instrument. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece, and manipulating both the slider and one's breath to create different notes. It was invented in France around 1600 AD. -
Sonata
The Sonata was one of the main genres or styles of the Baroque period. It was usually composed for one instrument, or a small group of instruments, and typically had two or four sections. One of the main composers for this style was Johann Sebastian Bach. -
Concerto
The Concerto was a form of music popular in the Baroque period. It consisted of a solo instrument which was accompanied by a larger ensemble. It typically has many sections, which often contrast with each other. Antonio Vivaldi was a key composer in this genre at the time. -
Opera
The Opera was a style of music popular in the Baroque period. It consisted of a drama, set to an almost constant background or foreground of music, majority vocal. It had many sections that were separated by sung or spoken dialogue. Jean-Baptiste Lully was a major composer of Opera at the time. -
Oboe
The oboe is a double-reed, treble woodwind instrument typically constructed of wood, metal, or both. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece and covering a series of holes to create different notes. It was invented around 1650 in France. -
French Horn
The french horn is a brass instrument constructed of metal. It has three small levers used to manipulate the airflow throughout the instrument. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece and manipulating both one's breath and the levers to create different notes. It was invented in France around 1650 AD. -
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell was a composer from the Baroque period. He was born in 1659, and died on November 21, 1695. He is considered the most important English composer of his time, and is known for his piece 'Dido and Aeneas'. -
George Frederic Handel
George Frederic Handel was a composer from the Baroque period. He was born in 1685 in Germany, and died on April 14, 1759. He is noted for his operas, and known for his most famous piece, 'Messiah'. -
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi was a composer from the Baroque period. He was born in 1678 in Italy, and died on July 28, 1741. Regarded as one of the greatest of all time, he is known for perfecting the concerto, and is extremely famous for his piece, 'Four Seasons'. -
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer from the Baroque period. He was born in 1685 in Germany, and died on July 28, 1750. He is considered one of the greatest composers to ever live, and is known for composing the famous Brandenburg Concertos. -
Clarinet
The clarinet is a single-reed, alto or tenor woodwind instrument, usually made of African blackwood. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece and covering a series of holes to produce different notes. It was invented in Germany around 1690 AD. -
Piano
The piano is a large, floor-standing percussion instrument usually constructed of wood. It has a series of black and white keys that connect to hammers, which hit strings to create notes. It is played by pressing down on these keys in a sequence to create notes. It was invented in Italy around 1700 AD. -
Xylophone
The xylophone is a percussion instrument that consists of many beams on a rack, that are hit to create sound. They were originally constructed of wood, but some today are made of metal. It is played by hitting the beams with a mallet to create different notes. It is estimated to have been invented in Southeast Asia around 1700 AD. -
Period: to
Baroque Music Examples
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 - Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach, ~1720 Messiah - Oratorio by George Frederic Handel, ~1741 Four Seasons - Concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, ~1718 -
Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn was a composer from the Classical time period. He was born in Austria in 1732, and died on May 31, 1809. He took part in creating pieces and styles for the string quartet, and his notable works include 'Deutschlandlied' and his version of the Requiem. -
Symphony
The Symphony is a form of music popular in the Classical period. It was written for a large orchestra, and contained many sections, called movements. Ludwig van Beethoven was a key composer for this style of music. -
Oratorio
The Oratorio was a genre of music popular in the Classical time period. It was composed for both voice and orchestra, and was basically a religious opera. The words were typically taken from sacred text, however it was performed in both churches and concert halls. Joseph Haydn was a key composer to the Oratorio. -
Chamber Music
Chamber Music was a style of music popular in the Classical period. It was not written to be performed at large halls or concerts, instead in smaller spaces. It usually consisted of no more than one instrument for every part. Franz Schubert was a key composer of Chamber Music. -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, full name Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was a composer from the Classical period. He was born in Austria in 1756, and died on December 5, 1791. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. He wrote in almost all genres of his time, and is most famous for his 'Requiem'. -
Period: to
Classical Music Examples
Symphony No. 40 - Symphony by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1788 Piano Trio No. 39 - Trio by Joseph Haydn, 1795 Symphony No. 9 - Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, 1822 -
Gioachino Rossini
Gioachino Rossini was a composer from the Classical time period. He was born in Italy in 1792, and died on November 13, 1868. He is mostly known for his operas, among which 'The Barber of Seville' and 'William Tell' are some of the most well known. -
Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert was a composer from the Classical time period. He was born in Austria in 1797, and died on November 19, 1828. He is noted for his many symphonies, and is most famous for his piece, 'Ave Maria!', which was considered a masterpiece at its writing. -
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin was a composer from the Romantic time period. He was born in 1810 in Poland, and died on October 17, 1849. Most works he composed were for the piano, some of the most notable include 'Berceuse' and 'Heroic Polonaise'. -
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner was a composer during the Romantic period. He was born in Germany in 1813, and died on February 13, 1883. He is considered to have had an influence on the course of Western music, and is known for works such as 'Der Ring des Nibelungen'. -
Lied
The Lied was a form of music popular in the Romantic period. It was mostly vocal, sometimes accompanied by piano, and was typically based on or around poetry, many written about love. Hugo Wolf was a key composer of the Lied. -
Nocturne
The Nocturne was a form of music from the Romantic time period. By the name, it took inspiration from the night, and was mostly composed for the piano. Frédéric Chopin was a key composer of the Nocturne. -
Capriccio
The Capriccio was a style of music developed mostly in the Romantic period. It often did not contain a strong structure, and many Capriccios were made for the piano or the violin. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a key composer of the Capriccio. -
Tuba
The tuba is an extremely large brass instrument constructed of metal. It has three buttons that are used to manipulate airflow throughout the instrument. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece, manipulating your breath and pressing the three buttons to create different notes. It was invented in Germany in 1830 AD. -
Period: to
Romantic Music Examples
Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2 - Nocturne by Frédéric Chopin, 1832 Piano Concerto No. 2 - Concerto by Sergei Rachmaninoff, 1900 Symphony No. 9 - Symphony by Antonín Dvořák, 1893 -
Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet was a composer from the Romantic time period. He was born in 1838 in France, and died on June 3, 1875. He was known for his operas, and 'Djamileh' is a particularly notable work of his. -
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky was a composer in the Romantic time period. He was born in Russia in 1839, and died on March 28, 1881. He was known to use harmonies in unusual ways, and is noted for his operas, specifically an opera titled 'Boris Godunov'. -
Saxaphone
The saxaphone is a brass instrument constructed of metal. It has many buttons along its length used to play different notes. It is played by blowing into a mouthpiece, and pressing different buttons to create different notes. It was invented in France in 1840 AD. -
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a composer from the Romantic time period. He was born in Russia in 1840, and died on November 6, 1893. He is considered the most popular Russian composer of all time, and became an icon in the Soviet Union. His most popular compositions are pieces for works such as The Nutcracker and Romeo Juliet, along with his 'Symphony no. 6 in B minor'. -
Bass Guitar
The bass guitar is a bass stringed instrument, hence the name, usually constructed of wood and metal. It typically has four or five strings, but can have more or less. It is held in one's lap while sitting, or near the abdomen while standing, and is played by plucking the strings and holding down different strings to create different notes. It was invented in the United States of America around 1930 AD.