Middle ages

The Middle Ages (476-1430)

By jonathaneus
  • 1040 BCE

    Psaltery

    Psaltery
    one the earliest known instruments that is most related to the harp
  • 284

    Antiquity

    Delphic Hymn to Apollo is the earliest known piece of music
  • 476

    Fall of Rome

    slow changes in life, culture, and dissemination of knowledge
  • 900

    Organum

    plainchant "melody" with an added melody; musically sung in parallel 4ths and 5ths; 3rds were dissonant and should not be used
  • 900

    Dulcimer

    Dulcimer
    can be strung or hammered; one of the earliest known instruments
  • Period: 991 to 1033

    Guido d'Arezzo

    credited with inventing the staff, and creating diastematic notation.
  • 1000

    Rebec

    Rebec
    can be played pressed up against the chest or rested on the leg
  • Period: 1098 to 1179

    Hildegard von Bingen

    founder and abbess of the convent at Rupertsberg, Germany. She was famous for her prophetic powers and revelations, and wrote liturgical dramas and religious poetry. She became the first female composer.
  • 1100

    Shawm

    Shawm
    double reed instrument that has a bocal; distant relatives of this instrument are the oboe, bassoon, and english horn
  • Period: 1150 to 1201

    Leonin

    first composer of polyphonic music whose name we know; credited with compiling the Magnus liber organi (c.1170)
  • Period: 1155 to 1207

    Raimbaut de Vaqueiras

    from southern France, served at the court in Montferrat; wrote at least 35 poems and 7 pieces of music that have survived
  • 1200

    Perotin

    possibly studied with Leonin and is considered a cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame
  • Period: 1291 to 1361

    Philippe de Vitry

    describes the Ars nova in the first half of the 14th century and also contains musical examples; first composer of Ars Nova
  • 1300

    Vielle

    Vielle
    older stringed instrument; very flat bridge instead of curved; sometimes has drone strings
  • Period: 1300 to 1350

    Ars nova

    means "new art" (in latin) that incorporates new rhythmic polyphony in the motets
  • Period: 1300 to 1377

    Guillaume de Machaut

    most famous composer and poet of the time; wrote more than 20 extant motets, several extant chansons and had one of the first polyphonic mass cycles
  • Period: 1325 to 1397

    Francesco Landini

    music theorist, composer, poet, and organist; famous because he was blind; the most famous Italian composer of the 14th century
  • Period: 1346 to 1353

    The Bubonic plague

    a pandemic killing over 75 million people (1/3 of the world population)
  • 1511

    Lute

    Lute
    pegboard is at a 90 degree angle to prevent the neck from snapping and lessens the tension; no set number of strings on a lute
  • 1559

    Crumhorn

    Crumhorn
    means crooked horn; double reed instrument; also known as the "bagpipe chanter"; can be very loud and obnoxious
  • 1580

    Theorbo

    Theorbo
    a large lute; not a set number of strings and has additional vibration strings