Music History Timeline

By Jake Donehoo
  • 500

    Medieval

    Ranging from 500 to 1450 CE. Also known as middle ages.
  • 1030

    Guido of Arezzo's "Micrologus"

    An early polyphonic Gregorian chant dedicated to the bishop of Arezzo.
  • 1098

    Hildegard of Bingen

    Born in 1098 and died in 1179.
  • 1323

    Ars Nova Treatise

    The Ars Nova treatise consisted of some of the earliest rhythmic notation.
  • 1450

    Renaissance

    Ranging from 1450 to 1600. Considered the "economic rebirth following the middle ages."
  • 1485

    Josquin's "Ave Maria...virgo serena"

    Written in 1485. Considered the "Mona lisa of Renaissance music."
  • 1529

    Martin Luther's Chorale "Ein feste burg"

    Translates to, "A mighty fortress is our God". Published by Martin Luther in 1529.
  • 1539

    Jaqcues Arcadelt's Madrigal "Il bianco e dolce cigno"

    Arcadelt's Madrigal published in 1539.
  • 1562

    Palestrina Pope Marcellus Mass

    Estimated to be published in 1562. This Mass was particularly thick with harmony and block chords unlike his other works. It was dedicated to Pope Marcellus who died only 3 week into his reign.

  • Victoria's Missa O magnum mysterium

    Published in 1592. Based off the Motet "O Magnum Mysterium".

  • Gabrieli Sonata pian’e forte

    An instrumental composition consisting of the Cornetto and the Sackbut. Was written in Italy in 1597.

  • Baroque Era

    1600-1750

  • Claudio Monteverdi's "L' Orfeo"

  • First Public Concerts in England

  • J.S. Bach

    Born 1685, died 1750

  • Antonio Vivaldi's "L'Estro Armonico"

    Published in 1711. Vivaldi's first concertos in print

  • Rameau's "Traité de l’harmonie"

    Published in 1722. Most influential of all theoretical works. Became the basis for teaching harmony.

  • Bach's "The Well-Tempered Clavier" volume 1

    Published in 1722. Consisted of 24 preludes and fugues

  • Franz Joseph Haydn

    1732-1809

  • Handel's "Messiah"

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Born 1756, died 1791

  • Viennese Classical Period

    1770-1800

  • Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges as director of Concerts des Amateurs

    1773-1781. Considered one of the finest orchestras in Europe.

  • Mozart's "Don Giovanni"

  • Haydn's Symphony No. 94 "Surprise"

    First debuted in London in 1792

  • Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor (premiere date)

  • Schubert Erlkönig (composition date)

  • Nicolo Paganini 24 Caprices for Violin, op.1 (complete first publication)

  • Berlioz Symphonie fantastique (composition date)

  • Frederic Chopin Mazurkas Op.7 (composition date range)

    composed 1830-1832

  • Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel Das Jahr (composition date)

  • Louis Moreau Gottschalk Souvenir de Porto Rico

    Composed 1857-1858

  • Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (original piano version)

  • Bizet Carmen (premiere date)

  • Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen (premiere of complete cycle)

  • Brahms' Symphony No.4 (premiere)

  • Mahler Symphony No.1 (premiere)

  • Jean Sibelius' Finlandia (premiere)

  • Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"

  • Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag (published)

  • Claude Debussy's Voiles” from Préludes Book 1

  • Arnold Schönberg's Pierrot Lunaire

  • Igor Stravinsky's Le sacre du Printemps (premiere)

  • Arnold Schönberg's Piano Suite, Op.25

  • Louis Armstrong's "Hotter Than That"

  • George and Ira Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" (published)

  • Shostakovich Symphony No.5 premiere

  • Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky (film)

  • Duke Ellington's Cottontail

  • Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour le fine du temps

  • Bela Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra

  • Copland Appalachian Spring

  • John Cage's 4’33’’

  • Edward Varese Poeme Electronique

  • Miles Davis Kind of Blue

  • George Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children

  • John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine