-
9000 BCE
Xylophone
The xylophone was invented in Southeast Asia in the 9th century and is part of the percussion family. Xylophone -
3000 BCE
Harp
The harp was invented in Ancient Egypt in 1500 BC and is part of the strings family. Harp -
2000 BCE
Castanets
The castanet was invented in Spain in the 20-21st century and is part of the percussion family. Castanets -
1700 BCE
Tambourine
The tambourine was invented in Ancient Egypt in 1700 B.C. and is part of the percussion family. Tambourine -
1600 BCE
Triangle
The triangle was invented in Egypt in the 16th century and is part of the percussion family. Triangle -
1600 BCE
Cello
The cello was invented in Italy in the 16th century and is part of the string family. Cello -
1500 BCE
Trumpet
The trumpet was invented in Egypt in the 1500 B.C. and is part of the Brass family. Trumpet -
900 BCE
Flute
The Flute was invented in 900 B.C. in China and is part of the woodwind family. Also is one of the oldest woodwind instruments Flute -
Period: 400 to 1400
Medieval Period
The medieval period in music history lasted from the 5th century to the 15th century. Music was mainly vocal and used in religious ceremonies. Musical notation was created during this period, allowing for compositions to be written down and shared. Famous composers include Hildegard von Bingen, Perotin, and Guillaume de Machaut. Medieval Period -
1200
Motet - Medieval/Renaissance Period
A motet is a polyphonic choral composition that was popular during the medieval and Renaissance periods. Famous composers of motet music include Josquin des Prez, William Byrd, and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Motet -
1200
Gregorian Chant - Medieval/Renaissance Period
Gregorian chant is a form of monophonic, unaccompanied vocal music that was created during the medieval period. Famous composers of Gregorian chant include Pope Gregory I and Hildegard von Bingen. Gregorian Chant -
1200
Madrigal - Medieval/Renaissance Period
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition that was popular during the Renaissance period. Famous composers of madrigal music include Claudio Monteverdi, Thomas Morley, and Orlando di Lasso. Madrigal -
Period: 1300 to Apr 13, 1377
Guillaume de Machaut - Medieval/Renaissance Period
Machaut was part of the Medieval/Renaissance Period composers. He was born in the 1300s in France. His major influence was his work as a poet and musician and his notable works include Messe de Nostre Dame, Le Voir Dit, and Remede de Fortune. A fun fact about his was that he was the first composer to write a complete setting of the Ordinary of the mass. Guillaume de Machaut -
1360
"Messe De Nostre Dane" Guillaume de Machaut - Medieval/ Renaissance Period
This piece is a polyphonic setting of the mass, composed around the 1360s. It is one of the earliest known complete settings of the mass by a single composer and is considered a significant contribution to the development of Western classical music."Messe De Nostre Dane" Guillaume de Machaut -
1450
Trombone
The Trombone was invented in Belgium around 1450 and is part of the Brass family. Trombone -
Period: 1450 to Aug 27, 1521
Joaquin de Prez - Medieval/Renaissance Period
He was known for his innovative use of complex polyphonic techniques and his works were widely circulated throughout Europe. Josquin's style was characterized by a sense of balance and clarity, with a focus on expressive and emotional qualities in the music. Today, he is considered one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance period, particularly famous for his masses and motets. Joaquin de Prez -
Period: 1500 to
Renaissance Period
The Renaissance period in music history lasted from the 14th to the 17th century. This period saw a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman arts and culture. Music became more complex and varied, with greater emphasis on both vocal and instrumental music. Composers experimented with new forms and techniques, including polyphony, which combines multiple melodies for a rich, layered texture. Famous composers of this era include Palestrina, Byrd, and Tallis. -
Period: 1505 to
Thomas Tallis - Medieval/Renaissance Period
Tallis is particularly famous for his choral works, including his settings of the Lamentations of Jeremiah and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, which are still performed in Anglican services today. He also worked for several monarchs, including Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I, and composed music for their coronations and other ceremonial occasions. Thomas Tallis -
Period: 1525 to
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Medieval/Renaissance Period
Palestrina was an Italian composer of the Renaissance period, known for his sacred music. He was born in Palestrina, near Rome, around 1525-1526 and died in Rome in 1594. Palestrina was considered one of the greatest composers of his time. [Giovanni Pierluigi](https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-musicapp-medieval-modern/chapter/giovannia-pierluigi-da-palestrina-e/#:~:text=Giovanni%20Pierluigi%20da%20Palestrina%20(c,Roman%20School%20of%20musical%20composition.) -
-
1562
"Pope Marcellus Mass" Giovanni Pierluihi da Palestrina - Medieval/Renaissance Period
The "Pope Marcellus Mass" is a famous six-part mass composed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina during the Renaissance period. It was written around 1562-1563 in response to the reforms of the Council of Trent. The mass is named after Pope Marcellus II and is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance sacred music. Pope Marcellus Mass -
1570
"Spem in Alium" Thomas Tallis - Medieval/Renaissance Period
It is a forty-part motet, which means that it is composed of eight choirs of five voices each, creating a rich and complex texture. The piece is known for its soaring melodies and intricate harmonies, and is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance polyphony. Spem in Alium -
Period: to
Opera - Baroque Period
This style is characterized by its use of dramatic singing and storytelling through music. Prominent composers of this style include Claudio Monteverdi and George Frideric Handel. Fun fact: the first opera ever performed was Jacopo Peri's "Dafne" in 1598. Baroque Opera -
Period: to
Concerto Grosso - Baroque Period
This style features a small group of soloists playing alongside a larger orchestra. Prominent composers of this style include Antonio Vivaldi and Arcangelo Corelli. Fun fact: Vivaldi's most famous Concerto Grosso piece is "The Four Seasons." Concerto Grosso -
Period: to
Fugue - Baroque Period
This style is defined by its use of a single theme that is repeated and developed throughout the piece. Prominent composers of this style include Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann. Fun fact: Bach's "The Art of Fugue" is considered one of the greatest works of fugue in music history. Fugue -
Period: to
Baroque Period
The Baroque period in music history lasted from the 17th to the early 18th century. Music during this time was known for its ornate and elaborate style, with a focus on harmony and melody. Composers wrote music for specific occasions, such as church services or royal events, and many of their works were highly structured and formulaic. Famous composers of the Baroque period include Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. -
Period: to
Antonio Vivaldi - Baroque Period
Antonio Vivaldi (born March 4, 1678, Venice, Republic of Venice [Italy]—died July 28, 1741, Vienna, Austria) was an Italian composer and violinist who left a decisive mark on the form of the concerto and the style of late Baroque instrumental music. Antonio Vivaldi -
Period: to
Jean-Philippe Rameau - Baroque Period
Jean-Philippe Rameau (baptized September 25, 1683, Dijon, France—died September 12, 1764, Paris) was a French composer of the late Baroque period, best known today for his harpsichord music, operas, and works in other theatrical genres but in his lifetime also famous as a music theorist. [Jean-Philippe Rameau](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Philippe-Rameau#:~:text=Jean%2DPhilippe%20Rameau%20(baptized%20September,famous%20as%20a%20music%20theorist.) -
Period: to
George Frideric Handel - Baroque Period
George Frideric Handel (born February 23, 1685, Halle, Brandenburg [Germany]—died April 14, 1759, London, England) was a German-born English composer of the late Baroque era, noted particularly for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. [George Frideric Handel](https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Frideric-Handel#:~:text=George%20Frideric%20Handel%20(born%20February,%2C%20oratorios%2C%20and%20instrumental%20compositions.) -
Period: to
Johann Sebastian Bach - Baroque Period
Bach (31 March 1685–28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. He enriched established German styles through his skill in counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. [Bach](https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-musicapp-medieval-modern/chapter/johann-sebastian-bach/#:~:text=Johann%20Sebastian%20Bach%20(31%20March,particularly%20from%20Italy%20and%20France.) -
-
Period: to
Christoph Willibald Gluck - Classical Period
Christoph Willibald Gluck (born July 2, 1714, Erasbach, near Berching, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria [Germany]—died Nov. 15, 1787, Vienna, Austria) was a German classical composer, best known for his operas, including Orfeo ed Euridice (1762), Alceste (1767), Paride ed Elena (1770), Iphigénie en Aulide (1774), the French version of Orfeo (1774), and Iphigénie en Tauride (1779). He was knighted in 1756. Gluck -
Baroque to Classical
The Baroque period was between the years 1600 and 1750. Key features included small orchestras, with often a focus on the harpsichord or string instruments, and often polyphonic textures. Example composers would be Bach or Handel. The Classical period came after, between the years 1750 and 1820. -
Period: to
Franz Joseph Haydn - Classical Period
Joseph Haydn (born March 31, 1732, Rohrau, Austria—died May 31, 1809, Vienna) was an Austrian composer who was one of the most important figures in the development of the Classical style in music during the 18th century. He helped establish the forms and styles for the string quartet and the symphony. Joseph-Haydn -
Period: to
Symphony - Classical Period
This style is characterized by its use of a large orchestra playing in four movements. Prominent composers of this style include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn. Fun fact: Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is notable for its use of choral singing in the final movement. Symphony -
Period: to
Sonata - Classical Period
This style features a solo instrument (usually a piano) playing alongside a smaller ensemble. Prominent composers of this style include Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Joseph Haydn. Fun fact: Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is one of the most famous sonatas ever composed. Sonata -
Period: to
Chamber Music - Classical Period
This style features a small group of musicians playing together in an intimate setting. Prominent composers of this style include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert. Fun fact: Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" is one of the most famous chamber music pieces in history. Chamber Music -
Period: to
Classical Period
The Classical era in music is compositionally defined by the balanced eclecticism of the late 18th- and early 19th-century Viennese “school” of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, who completely absorbed and individually fused or transformed the vast array of 18th-century textures and formal types. Classical Period -
Period: to
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Classical Period
Mozart (born January 27, 1756, Salzburg—died December 5, 1791, Vienna) was an Austrian composer, widely recognized as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. With Haydn and Beethoven he brought to its height the achievement of the Viennese Classical school. Unlike any other composer in musical history, he wrote in all the musical genres of his day and excelled in every one. Mozart -
Period: to
Ludwig van Beethoven - Classical/Romantic Period
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized December 17, 1770, Bonn, archbishopric of Cologne [Germany]—died March 26, 1827, Vienna, Austria) was a German composer, the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras. Beethoven -
"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts - Classical Period
Eine kleine Nachtmusik, serenade for two violins, viola, cello, and double bass by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, admired for its lively, joyful quality and its memorable melodies. The piece was completed on August 10, 1787, but was published posthumously. In present-day practice, it is typically performed in orchestral arrangement. Eine Kleine -
"The creation" Joseph Haydn - Classical Period
The Creation, oratorio by Austrian composer Joseph Haydn dating from April 1798. It was inspired by Handel’s Messiah and Israel in Egypt, which Haydn had heard while visiting England. The Creation -
Brass clarinet
The Brass clarinet was invented in France about the end of the eighteenth century and is part of the woodwind family. Brass clarinet -
Classical to romantic
Classical music, an era that lasted from 1750-1820, paved way for various compositional and melodic techniques that were implemented during the Romantic Era (1815-1910). Classical to Romantic -
Period: to
Hector Berlioz - Romantic Period
Hector Berlioz (born December 11, 1803, La Côte-Saint-André, France—died March 8, 1869, Paris) was a French composer, critic, and conductor of the Romantic period, known largely for his Symphonie fantastique (1830), the choral symphony Roméo et Juliette (1839), and the dramatic piece La Damnation de Faust (1846). His last years were marked by fame abroad and hostility at home. Hector Berlioz -
"Symphony No.5" Ludwig Van Beethoven - Classical Period
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67, orchestral work by German composer Ludwig Beethoven, widely recognized by the ominous four-note opening motif—often interpreted as the musical manifestation of “fate knocking at the door”—that recurs in various guises throughout the composition. The symphony premiered on December 22, 1808, in Vienna, and it soon became a standard against which many other symphonies were measured. Symphony No.5 -
Period: to
Frederic Chopin - Romantic Period
Chopin (born March 1, 1810, Żelazowa Wola, near Warsaw, Duchy of Warsaw [now in Poland]—died October 17, 1849, Paris, France) was a Polish French composer and pianist of the Romantic period, best known for his solo pieces for piano and his piano concerti. Although he wrote little but piano works, many of them brief, Chopin ranks as one of music’s greatest tone poets by reason of his superfine imagination and fastidious craftsmanship. Chopin -
French horn
The french horn was invented in Germany in 1814 and is part of the Brass family. -
-
Period: to
Lied - Romantic Period
This style is defined by its use of poetry set to music, usually sung by a solo vocalist. Prominent composers of this style include Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann. Fun fact: Schubert's "Erlkönig" is a famous example of a Lied. Lied -
Period: to
Ballet - Romantic Period
This style features dance and music working together to tell a story. Prominent composers of this style include Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Igor Stravinsky. Fun fact: Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" is one of the most famous ballets ever composed. Ballet -
Period: to
Program Music - Romantic Era
This style is characterized by its use of music to tell a story or depict a scene. Prominent composers of this style include Hector Berlioz and Franz Liszt. Fun fact: Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" is a notable example of program music. Program Music -
-
Period: to
Romantic Period
The Romantic period started around 1830 and ended around 1900, as compositions became increasingly expressive and inventive. Expansive symphonies, virtuosic piano music, dramatic operas, and passionate songs took inspiration from art and literature. Romantic Period -
"Nocturnes, Op.9" Frederic Chopin - Romantic Period
The Nocturnes, Op. 9 are a set of three nocturnes for solo piano written by Frédéric Chopin between 1831 and 1832, published in 1832, and dedicated to Madame Marie Pleyel. These were Chopin's first published set of nocturnes. The second nocturne of the work is often regarded as Chopin's most famous piece. Nocturnes, Op.9 -
-
Saxophone
The Saxophone was invented in Belgium in 1846 and is part of the woodwind family. -
-
Jazz - 20th Century Period
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music. Jazz -
Musical Theater - 20th Century Period
Musical theater is a form of theater that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. Famous musical theater composers include Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Richard Rodgers. Musical Theater -
Electronic Music - 20th Century Period
Electronic music, any music involving electronic processing, such as recording and editing on tape, and whose reproduction involves the use of loudspeakers. Electronic Music -
Period: to
Claude Debussy - 20th Century Period
Claude Debussy (born August 22, 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France—died March 25, 1918, Paris) was a French composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the Impressionist and Symbolist painters and writers of his time aspired. Claude Debussy -
"Hungarian Dances" Johannes Brahms - Romantic Period
Hungarian Dances, set of 21 dances composed by Johannes Brahms. Originally intended for two pianists, the dances were published in that form in two sets in 1869 and in 1880. Some were orchestrated by Brahms himself, and others were orchestrated by his colleagues, including Antonín Dvořák. Hungarian Dances -
Period: to
Arnold Schoenberg - 20th Century Period
Arnold Schoenberg (born September 13, 1874, Vienna, Austria—died July 13, 1951, Los Angeles, California, U.S.) was an Austrian-American composer who created new methods of musical composition involving atonality, namely serialism and the 12-tone row. He was also one of the most-influential teachers of the 20th century; among his most-significant pupils were Alban Berg and Anton Webern. Arnold Schoenberg -
"Swan Lake" Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Romantic Period
It is a romantic ballet in four acts composed between 1875 and 1876 and first performed on 4 March 1877 at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre with choreography by Julius Reisinger. Swan Lake -
Period: to
Igor Stravinsky - 20th Century Period
Igor Stravinsky (born June 5 [June 17, New Style], 1882, Oranienbaum [now Lomonosov], near St. Petersburg, Russia—died April 6, 1971, New York, New York, U.S.) was a Russian-born composer whose work had a revolutionary impact on musical thought and sensibility just before and after World War I, and whose compositions remained a touchstone of modernism for much of his long working life. He was honoured with the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal in 1954 and the Wihuri Sibelius Prize in 1963. -
-
Period: to
20th Century Period
The 20th century began on 1 January 1901, and ended on 31 December 2000. It was the 10th and last century of the 2nd millennium and was marked by new models of scientific understanding, unprecedented -
"The Rite of Spring" Igor Stravinsky - 20th Century Period
The Rite of Spring, ballet by Russian modernist composer Igor Stravinsky that premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris on May 29, 1913. It is considered one of the first examples of Modernism in music and is noted for its brutality, its barbaric rhythms, and its dissonance. -
Electric Guitar
The Electric Guitar was invented in the United States in the 1930s and is part of the strings family. Guitar -
Period: to
Philip Glass - 20th Century Period
Glass (born January 31, 1937, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.) is an American composer of innovative instrumental, vocal, and operatic music. Glass studied flute as a boy and enrolled at age 15 at the University of Chicago, where he studied mathematics and philosophy and graduated in 1956. His interest in atonal music drew him on to study composition at the Juilliard School of Music in NYC and then to Paris to study under Nadia Boulanger. Glass -
"Appalachian Springs" Aaron Copland - 20th Century Period
Appalachian Spring, ballet by Aaron Copland, first performed in Washington, D.C., on October 30, 1944. The ballet, which won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1945, contains some of the composer’s most familiar music, particularly his set of variations on the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts.” Appalachian Spring was commissioned in 1942 by the American patron of the arts Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, who requested a new ballet for the dancer and choreographer Martha Graham. -
"West Side Story" Leonard Berstein - 20th Century Period
West Side Story, theatre music by American composer Leonard Bernstein that premiered August 19, 1957, in Washington, D.C., before moving to Broadway for a second opening on September 26, 1957. The musical is a 20th-century American adaptation of the Shakespearean tale of Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story
