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100 BCE
SEIKILOS EPITAPH
The SeiKilos epitaph is an Ancient Greek inscription that preserves the oldest surviving complete musical composition, including musical notation. Commonly dated between the 1st and 2nd century AD. -
991
GUIDO D´AREDZZO
Guido of Arezzo (Italian: Guido d'Arezzo; (991–992 – after 1033) was an Italian music theorist and pedagogue of High medieval music. A Benedictine monk, he is regarded as the inventor or by some, developer of the modern staff notation that had a massive influence on the development of Western musical notation and practice. -
1000
GREGORIAN CHANT
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song in Latin (and occasionally Greek) of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian chant developed mainly in western and central Europe during the 9th and 10th centuries, with later additions and redactions. -
1098
HILDEGAD VON BINGEN
Hildegard of Bingen, (1098 – 17 September 1179), also known as the Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German Benedictine abbess and polymath active as a writer, composer, philosopher, mystic, visionary, and as a medical writer and practitioner during the High Middle Ages. -
1129
BERNART DE VENTADORN
Bernart de Ventadorn (also Bernard de Ventadour or Bernat del Ventadorn; c. 1130–1140 – c. 1190–1200) was a French poet-composer troubadour of the classical age of troubadour poetry -
1135
LEONIN
Léonin (also Leoninus, Leonius, Leo; (1135s–1201) was the first known significant composer of polyphonic organum. He was probably French, probably lived and worked in Paris at the Notre-Dame Cathedral and was the earliest member of the Notre Dame school of polyphony and the ars antiqua style who is known by name. -
1170
ARS ANTIQUA
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 restricted to sacred or polyphonic music, excluding the secular monophonic songs of the troubadours, and trouvères. -
1200
PEROTIN
Pérotin, (1200) was a composer associated with the Notre Dame school of polyphony in Paris and the broader ars antiqua musical style of high medieval music. He is credited with developing the polyphonic practices of his predecessor Léonin, with the introduction of three and four-part harmonies. -
Nov 23, 1221
ALFONSO X EL SABIO
Alfonso X (also known as the Wise, Spanish: el Sabio; 23 November 1221 – 4 April 1284) was King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1 June 1252 until his death in 1284. During the election of 1257, a dissident faction chose him to be king of Germany on 1 April. He renounced his claim to Germany in 1275, and in creating an alliance with the Kingdom of England in 1254, his claim on the Duchy of Gascony as well -
1300
GUILLAUME DE MACHAUT
Guillaume de Machaut, (1300 – April 1377) was a French composer and poet who was the central figure of the ars nova style in late medieval music -
1310
ARS NOVA
Ars nova (Latin for new art),refers to a musical style which flourished in the Kingdom of France and its surroundings during the Late Middle Ages. More particularly, it refers to the period between the preparation of the Roman de Fauvel (1310s) and the death of composer Guillaume de Machaut in 1377. The term is sometimes used more generally to refer to all European polyphonic music of the fourteenth century -
1324
FRANCESCO LANDINI
Francesco Landini (1325 or 1335 – 2 September 1397); was an Italian composer, poet, organist, singer and instrument maker who was a central figure of the Trecento style in late Medieval music. One of the most revered composers of the second half of the 14th century, he was by far the most famous composer in Italy. -
1400
Johannes Gutenberg
A German inventor known for developing the movable-type printing press in Europe, revolutionizing the dissemination of knowledge. His invention enabled mass production of books, which greatly expanded access to information, including music, by making music scores more widely available. -
1468
Juan del Encina
A Spanish composer and poet of the Renaissance, one of the earliest significant figures in the development of Spanish secular music. He is credited with pioneering musical theater in Spain and wrote villancicos and églogas, reflecting popular life and the vernacular. -
1483
Martin Luther
A German theologian and central figure in the Protestant Reformation. Luther not only changed the course of religious history but also impacted music by promoting the use of vernacular hymns in church services, encouraging the active participation of congregations in singing. -
1500
Cristóbal de Morales
A Spanish composer of the Renaissance, especially noted for his sacred music, particularly in the realm of vocal polyphony. His works had a significant influence on the music of the Spanish court and the development of sacred music in Europe. -
1510
Andrea Gabrieli
An Italian composer and organist from the Renaissance, part of the Venetian school of music. He was a forerunner of Baroque music, particularly in sacred music and vocal polyphony, influencing the development of the musical style that would emerge in the early Baroque period. -
1510
ANTONIO DE CABEZÓN
A Spanish composer and organist of the Renaissance, recognized as one of the most important musicians of his time. Cabezón was one of the first to compose music for the keyboard, and his works include both sacred and secular music, as well as virtuoso keyboard pieces. -
1525
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA
An Italian composer of the Renaissance, considered one of the greatest masters of sacred music. His style, characterized by vocal clarity and counterpoint, had a significant impact on liturgical music and helped solidify the role of polyphony in the Catholic Church. -
1532
ORLANDO DI LASSO
A Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, known for his prolific output and mastery of polyphonic style. Di Lasso composed sacred music, madrigals, and motets, and his works are recognized for their emotional depth and complex textures. -
1544
Maddalena Casulana
An Italian composer and singer, one of the first women to have her music published during the Renaissance. She was known for her madrigals and vocal music, praised for both her technical skill and emotional expressiveness, and was a trailblazer in a male-dominated field. -
1548
Tomás Luis de Victoria
A Spanish composer and priest of the Renaissance, renowned for his sacred music. His works, marked by emotional depth and clarity of vocal texture, are considered among the finest in the genre of Catholic liturgical music. -
1557
Giovanni Gabrieli
An Italian composer and organist, nephew of Andrea Gabrieli, known for his contribution to the development of Baroque music. He was influential in the evolution of music for multiple ensembles and the use of spatial effects in music, anticipating the musical style of the Baroque period. -
1566
Carlo Gesualdo
An Italian composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque, famous for his intense, emotionally charged madrigals and his bold harmonic choices. His works often feature dissonances and abrupt shifts in harmony, making him a precursor to the later Baroque style. -
1567
Claudio Monteverdi
Italian composer from the transition between the Renaissance and Baroque periods, known for his innovations in opera. His most famous work is L'Orfeo, one of the first great operas in history. -
Giacomo Carissimi
Italian composer, one of the pioneers of vocal religious music and opera. He was known for his work in the oratorio genre, with Jephte being one of the most important examples of this form. -
Barbara Strozzi
Italian composer and singer, one of the most prominent figures in Baroque music, especially in secular vocal music. Her works include over 100 compositions, mostly cantatas and arias. -
Antonio Stradivari
Famous Italian luthier, known for his violins, violas, and other string instruments. Stradivari’s instruments are considered among the best ever made, and they continue to be highly valued by musicians and collectors. -
Henry Purcell
Late Baroque English composer, known for his vocal and chamber music. His most famous work is the opera Dido and Aeneas, considered one of the greatest operatic productions of 17th-century England. -
Antonio Vivaldi
Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque period, best known for his work The Four Seasons, a set of violin concertos. He was one of the greatest composers of instrumental music and an innovator in the concerto form. -
George Philipp Telemann
Prolific German Baroque composer, whose work spanned all musical genres of the time. A contemporary of Bach and Händel, his music was highly esteemed in his day and includes thousands of compositions for various instruments and ensembles. -
Georg Friedrich Händel
German-British composer, famous for his oratorios such as Messiah and his operatic works. His music, which ranges from opera to instrumental music and oratorios, had a great influence on Baroque music and the transition to the Classical style. -
Johann Sebastian Bach
German composer and musician, considered one of the greatest geniuses in classical music. His works include Mass in B minor, The Art of Fugue, and the Brandenburg Concertos. His music spans all genres, and his mastery of counterpoint sets him apart. -
GLUCK
Christoph Willibald Gluck ( 2 July 1714 – 15 November 1787) was a composer of Italian and French opera in the early classical period. Born in the Upper Palatinate and raised in Bohemia, both at the time part of the Holy Roman Empire, he gained prominence at the Habsburg court at Vienna. There he brought about the practical reform of opera's dramaturgical practices for which many intellectuals had been campaigning. -
J. HAYDN
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809), Austrian composer, he is one of the founders of musical classicism and a great influence on Mozart and Beethoven. He is best known for his symphonies and string quartets, such as The Farewell Symphony and the string quartets op. 33. -
NANNERL MOZART
Nannerl Mozart, sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was a talented pianist and composer, although her musical career was limited by the social norms of the time. She is known to have performed alongside her brother in family concerts. -
W.A. MOZART
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age resulted in more than 800 works representing virtually every Western classical genre of his time. Many of these compositions are acknowledged as pinnacles of the symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral repertoire. Mozart is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. -
MARIA THERESIA VON PARADIS
Maria Theresia von Paradis was an Austrian composer and pianist who became blind at a young age. She was known for her piano works and vocal music. Her Piano Concerto in C minor is her most famous piece. -
BEETHOVEN
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was a German composer who marked the transition between classicism and romanticism. His music revolutionised classical structures and took emotional expression to new heights. Notable works include The Ninth Symphony, The Fifth Symphony and Moonlight Sonata. -
ROSSINI
Gioachino Rossini, was an Italian composer, best known for his comic operas such as The Barber of Seville and Cinderella. His style is characterized by melodic agility and brilliant orchestration. -
SCHUBERT
Franz Schubert was an Austrian Romantic composer who wrote more than 600 lieder (songs), as well as symphonies, quartets and other works. His Ave Maria, Unfinished Symphony and The Trout are some of his best-known works. -
BERLIOZ
Hector Berlioz, was a French composer and a pioneer in the use of large orchestras and orchestral effects. His most famous work is Symphonie Fantastique, one of the most important pieces of the Romantic period. -
MENDELSSOHN
Felix Mendelssohn, was a German Romantic composer, known for his symphonic, choral, and chamber music. His A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture and Symphony No. 4 "Italian" are among his most popular works. -
SCHUMANN
Robert Schumann, was a German Romantic composer and pianist. His music is emotional and expressive, including works such as Carnaval, Symphony No. 1 "Spring", and an extensive body of chamber music. -
CHOPIN
Frédéric Chopin, was a Polish composer and pianist, known for his piano music, which is emotionally charged and virtuosic. His most famous works include his Nocturnes, Polonaises, and Etudes. -
LISZT
Franz Liszt, was a Hungarian composer and pianist, considered one of the greatest piano virtuosos. His style is characterized by technical brilliance and innovative use of harmony. Works like The Bells of the Cathedral and Hungarian Rhapsodies are iconic. -
VERDI
Giuseppe Verdi, was an Italian composer whose work revolutionized Italian opera. He is famous for his contribution to bel canto, with operas like La Traviata, Aida, Rigoletto, and Macbeth. -
WAGNER
Richard Wagner, was a German composer known for his monumental operas, which transformed the genre with harmonic and conceptual innovations. His most famous works include The Ring of the Nibelung and Tristan und Isolde. -
CLARA SCHUMANN
Clara Schumann, was a German pianist and composer, renowned for her virtuosity and compositional output. She was one of the most important figures of the Romantic era, known for her piano works and concertos. -
SMETANA
Bedřich Smetana, was a Czech composer, known for his contribution to Czech nationalist music. His most famous work is My Country, a cycle of symphonic poems that celebrates the history and landscapes of his homeland. -
BRAHMS
Johannes Brahms, was a German composer known for his deeply emotional music, structured within classical forms. Notable works include Symphony No. 1, Piano Concerto No. 2, and Hungarian Dances. -
MUSSORGSKY
Modest Mussorgsky, was a Russian composer and member of the group "The Five". He is known for works like Pictures at an Exhibition and Boris Godunov, which show an innovative approach to harmony and expression. -
TCHAIKOVSKY
Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky, was a Russian composer whose emotionally powerful music has become a symbol of Romantic music. His ballets such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker are globally famous. -
DVORAK
Antonín Dvořak, was a Czech composer, known for blending his native folk music with classical traditions. Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" is one of his most popular works. -
GRIEG
Edvard Grieg, was a Norwegian composer, known for music that reflects the spirit of Nordic folk music. His Piano Concerto in A minor and Peer Gynt are among his most famous works. -
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, was a Russian composer known for his brilliant orchestration skills. His work Scheherazade is one of the most important in the symphonic repertoire. -
PUCCINI
Giacomo Puccini, was an Italian opera composer, acclaimed for his emotional works. His most famous operas include La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. -
HUGO WOLF
Hugo Wolf was an Austrian composer known for his lieder and unique harmonic style. He is associated with the end of Romanticism and the transition to Modernism. His Mörike-Lieder song cycle is one of his most important achievements. -
GUSTAV MAHLER
Gustav Mahler, was an Austrian composer and conductor, one of the most important of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His symphonies are vast and profound, such as Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" and Symphony No. 5. -
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Claude Debussy, was a French composer, a pioneer of musical impressionism. His style is characterized by atmosphere and tonal fluidity. Clair de Lune and Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune are two of his most famous pieces. -
SIBELIUS
Jean Sibelius, was a Finnish composer, known for his soundscapes and nationalist style. Symphony No. 2 and Voces Intimae are some of his most important works. -
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
Arnold Schoenberg, was an Austrian composer, a pioneer of atonality and serial music. Works like Verklärte Nacht and Suite for Strings are fundamental in the history of contemporary music. -
RAVEL
Maurice Ravel, was a French composer, associated with impressionism, known for his technical precision and complexity. Boléro and Daphnis et Chloé are two of his most popular works. -
MANUEL DE FALLA
Manuel de Falla, was a Spanish composer, known for his nationalist music and blend of Spanish tradition with modernism. El Amor Brujo and La Vida Breve are some of his most representative works. -
BARTÓK
Béla Bartók, was a Hungarian composer known for integrating Hungarian folk music into his works. His Piano Concerto No. 3 and Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta are examples of his mastery. -
KODÁLY
Zoltán Kodály. was a Hungarian composer and pedagogue, known for his educational methods and music that reflects Hungary's folk traditions. His work Música para cuerdas is a prominent example. -
JOAQUÍN TURINA
Joaquín Turina, was a Spanish composer whose music reflects the folk traditions and culture of his country. His most famous work is La oración del torero. -
STRAVINSKY
Igor Stravinsky, was a Russian composer whose works revolutionized 20th-century music. The Firebird, The Rite of Spring, and The Soldier's Tale are among his most influential works. -
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959) was a Brazilian composer known for integrating Brazilian folk music with classical influences. His Bachianas Brasileiras is one of his most significant contributions. -
GERSHWIN
George Gershwin, was an American composer who fused jazz with classical music. Works like Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess have left a deep impact on both popular and classical music. -
MESSIAEN
Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) was a French composer, known for his fusion of religious mysticism with contemporary music. Visions de l'Amen and Quartet for the End of Time are among his most important works. -
SCHAEFFER
Pierre Schaeffer (1910–1995) was a French composer and theorist, known as a pioneer of concrete music. His works explore recorded sounds and the manipulation of sonic materials. -
JOHN CAGE
John Cage, was an American composer, an innovator in the use of chance and sound experimentation. 4'33" is one of his most famous works, in which the performer produces no sound at all. -
HENRY
Pierre Henry, was a French composer, notable in experimental electronic music and concrete music. Symphonie pour un homme seul is one of his most influential works. -
PHILIP GLASS
Philip Glass (1937–) is an American composer, one of the most well-known exponents of minimalism. Works like Einstein on the Beach and Glassworks have marked his career.