Medieval/ Renaissance (476-1430-1600) timeline

476

Fall of Rome, Medieval Era begins (476 CE)
Period: 476 to 1430

Middle Ages (476-1430s)
600

Dissemination of Christianity through 600 CE
715

Gregorian Chant

Pope Gregory (ruled between 715 CE and 731 CE) reorganized and cataloged Gregorian chants, which are set neumatically and melismatically.
800

Polyphony and notation emerges (800s)

Earliest form of polyphony is organum.
Period: 850 to 1150

Romanesque era (c. 850-1150)
900

Organum (900 CE)
Extant in 800s CE, notated c. 1000 CE
- Plainchant melody with added melody.
- Musically sung piece of parallel 4ths and 5ths
- 3rds were not used because they were considered dissonant.
991

Guido d'Arezzo (c. 991 CE- after 1033 CE)

Credited with inventing the staff, suggested using a red line for F and a yellow line for C.
1098

Hildegard Von Bingen (1098-1179)

First female composer in contemporary musicology to receive extensive scholarly research. Wrote liturgical dramas and religious poetry, famous for her prophetic powers and revelations. She began to compose liturgical music and poetry in the 1140s and wrote down her visions. Music is not Gregorian Chant. Had a wider and higher range, more expressive, more interesting and wider leaps, might have been rhythmic, used poetic texts.
1150

Leonin (fl. 1150 CE- c. 1201 CE)

Cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. First composer of polyphonic music whose name we know.
Period: 1150 to 1450

Gothic period (c. 1150-1450)
1152

Bingen: Alleluia, O virga mediatrix (1152)

From the morality play Ordo virtutum, c. 1152 (“Play of Virtues”). Plainchant from the Mass Proper (Feast for the Virgin Mary)
1155

Raimbaut de Vaqueiras (c. 1155- 1207)

Wrote at least 35 poems, 7 survive with music. Killed in battle serving his patron in 1207.
1170

Magnus liber organi (c. 1170)

Compiled by Leonin.
1200

Perotin (fl. c. 1200 CE)

Cantor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, may have studied with Leonin.
1200

Emergence of "Motet" (1200s)

Included texts in French, Latin, or both. Focused on 6 rhythmic modes, then very complex between 1320-1400.
1291

Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361)

French priest. First composer of the Ars Nova
1300

Emergence of Ars nova Style (1300-1350)

New art style, served as a musical composition that could handle radical innovations. Complex rhythms did not last, but resurfaced in the 20th century.
1300

Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377)

French priest. Most famous composer and poet of the time. Composed more than 20 extant motets, several extant chansons. One of the first polyphonic mass cycles.
1322

Vitry: Ars nova notandi (1322)

(The New Art of Notes). Written by Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361), described the Ars nova in the first half of the 14th century. Contained musical examples.
1325

Landini: Ecco la primavera (14th century)

"Here is Spring." 2 part balleta for voice and instruments.
1325

Francesco Landini (ca. 1325-1397)

Music theorist, composer, poet, and organist; famous because he was blind. Famous Italian composer of the 14th century. *b6 cadence
Period: 1340 to 1353

Bubonic Plague (1340s- 1350s)

Also called "The Black Death," killed over 75 million people.
1350

Machaut: Puis qu'en oubli (1350)

Chanson rondeau (ABaAabAB) Modal tonality, no set system of cadences, Machaut added dissonances on the cadences.
1386

Donatello (c. 1386-1466)

Famous Italian artist, made Bronze statue of David.
1390

John Dunstable (Dunstaple) (ca. 1390-1453)

English, but influenced musical style in Europe. Composers who heard his music were impressed by the English quality. 3rds and 6ths were used in the harmonies. His complete works were not published until 1953.
1397

Guillaume Dufay (ca. 1397-1474)

First Renaissance composer
1420

Johannes Ockeghem (ca. 1420-97)

Respected composer; low bass.
Period: 1430 to 1600

Renaissance (1430-1600)

Rebirth; new complex currents of thoughts concerning arts, science, religion. Changes in art originated in Italy, musical style came out of England.
1435

Johannes Tinctoris (c. 1435-1511)

Composer and music theorist, wrote about contemporary music. Wrote the first dictionary of musical terms.
1444

Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510)

Famous Italian artist, painted the Birth of Venus (1485-86)
1450

Dunstable: Puisque M'Amour (first half of the 15th century)

Attributed to Dunstable, difficult for musicologists to date his pieces.
1450

Josquin des Prez (c. 1450-1521)

Most revered Renaissance composer, especially by Martin Luther.
1450

Heinrich Isaac (ca. 1450-1517)

Prolific German composer
1450

Josquin des Prez (ca. 1450-1521)

From Northern France, served in Italian court. Composed over 100 motets, 17 masses, many French chansons, and Italian secular songs are extant.
1450

Josquin des Prez (ca. 1450-1521)

Known for his chansons.
1452

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Artist, painted the Mona Lisa and The Annunciation, moving away from Biblical into Humanistic point of view.
1466

Erasmus (c. 1466-1536)

Dutch scholar-philosopher
1469

Shift to Choral Music

Chorals singing music, rather than soloists on different parts.
1475

Tinctoris: Diffinitorum musices (c. 1475)

Dictionary of musical terms.
1475

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)

Artist who created the "Pieta" statue (1499). At the Vatican, Marble.
1480

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, virgo serena (c. 1480)

Example of imitative polyphonic motet. This style of a capella vocal polyphony begins an era of choral polyphony that characterizes the Renaissance style.
1483

Raphael (1483-1520)

Artist who painted the "Madonna della Tenda" (1514).
1483

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

German religious reformer
1488

Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488-1576)

Artist, painted "The Three Ages of Man"
1490

Adrian Willaert (ca. 1490-1562)

Father of text expression
1500

Emergence of Frottola (1500-1530s)

Precursor to the madrigal and Baroque fugue. "Pop music" of the later Renaissance.
1504

Petrucci; Early publishing of frottola (1504-1511)

Ottaviano Petrucci was one of the most important early publishers, published 11 volumes of frottola between 1504-1511.
1505

Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

English composer who wrote a 40-piece monet.
1507

Jacques Arcadelt (ca. 1507-1568)

One of the earliest Italian madrigal composers, worked in French and Italian courts. Composed over 250 madrigals, 125 French chansons, and sacred music.
1517

Reformation begins

Martin Luther begins the Protestant movement known as the Reformation. Lutheranism grew popularity in Norther German cities and new music was written for these services.
1521

Philipp de Monte (1521-1603)

Prolific composer of the Renaissance
1525

Palestrina (1525-1594)

The most famous composer from the Renaissance.
1525

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-94)

Composer with posthumous fame.
1525

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-94)

Rose to the challenges of the Council of Trent. The church wanted everything homorhythmic and homophonic. Palestrina continued using polyphony, showing he could make any texture understood. Composed over 104 masses. His Pope Marcellus Mass met the religious goals called for the reform.
1528

Pablo Veronese (1528-1588)

Pained "The Allegory of Wisdom and Strength" (1580)
1530

Emergence of Madrigals (1530s-1600)
1530

Italian Madrigal (1530)

Originated in Florence circa 1530 as a form of aristocratic entertainment. One voice on each part. Sometimes instruments would play a voice part.
1530

Emergence of the Italian Madrigal (1530s+)

Used aristocratic poetry and flourished in Italian courts. Spread to England. Instruments participated, but were rarely notated.
First madrigals were homorhythmic and 4 solo voices. 5 solo voices became the norm around 1550; by 1600 no restrictions
***Became the experimental genre for the Baroque style
1532

Orlando di Lasso (1532-94)

Composer who ranks in importance with Josquin and Palestrina.
1543

William Byrd (1543-1623)

Important Catholic English composer working in Protestant England. Harassed because of his faith. Queen Elizabeth favored him, which offered him protection. Wrote several anthem (hymn, choral). Composed important keyboard music, 3 extant masses and lots of Protestant music.
Period: 1545 to 1563

Counter Reformation (1545-1563)
The Council of Trent set new guidelines for the Catholic church and musicians.
1. Words could be clearly understood.
2. They wanted all things secular gone from the church.(No more pub tunes.)
3. They wanted the musicians to act in a reverent manner.
1548

Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)

Carries on Palestrina’s style while working in Spain
1557

Giovanni Gabrieli (ca. 1557-1612)

Leading composer of instrumental ensemble music and polychoral works in the late Renaissance. Moved to Venice in 1585 to take the position of organist at St. Mark’s Cathedral. Composed over 100 motets (many polychoral) and other instrumental works. Canzonas and sonatas were new genres. One of the first composers to indicate the instruments he wanted in the score, sometimes indicate dynamics. Instrumental music was for ensembles.
1564

Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Wrote plays; songs were composed for his plays
1564

Galileo (1564-1642)

Famous scientist
1567

Palestrina: Pope Marcellus Mass (1567)

Supposedly written to satisfy the Council of Trent for 6 a cappella voices. Polyphonic and homorhythmic.
1567

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Composer who moved music from the Renaissance style to the Baroque. One of the founders of operas, wrote 9 books of madrigals. Used new style involving one voice.
1570

John Farmer (ca. 1570-1603)

English composer and organist who lived in London and Dublin. Known for clever word painting.
1583

Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643)

Organist of the Early Baroque, influence of J.S. Bach. Worked at St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.
Period: 1590 to 1730

Baroque Period (1590s-1730s)
1597

Gabrieli: Canzona septimi toni (1597)

From his large collection called Sacred Symphonies (Symphonies not meaning anything like today, just playing together); 2 choirs of instruments – each in 4 parts:8 musical lines interacting with each other in polyphony, sometimes creating homorhythm. “Cori spezzati” (split choirs) = the practice of breaking up a choir into more parts for more musical lines
1599

Farmer: Fair Phyllis (published 1599)

Composed by John Farmer. 4 solo voices, used the word painting device. "all alone," "up and down", in his madrigal.
1600

Emergence of Opera (1600)

Opera was invented in Florence, Italy by the Florentine Camerata.