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1397
guillaume Dufay
a French and Flemish composer, popular as a leading composer of the early Renaissance. He is known for his church music and secular songs. -
1450
Experimenting
During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Jacob Obrecht was known composer -
1500
experimenting continued
Experimentation with French chansons. -
1517
reformation
Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther. Significant changes occurred to church music such as the introduction of a chorale. -
1525
Polyphony
The lifetime of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, known as the high Renaissance composer of Counter-Reformation sacred music. During this period Renaissance polyphony reached its height. -
1540
Developement
Composers Adrian Willaert and Jacob Arcadelt were among those who developed the earliest Italian madrigals. -
1550
Catholic reformation
Catholic Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563 to discuss complaints against the church including its music. -
1570
Madrigals created
In the 1550s, thousands of madrigals were composed in Italy. Philippe de Monte was perhaps the most prolific of all madrigal composers. Composer Orlando Lassus left Italy and brought the madrigal form to Munich. -
End of Madrigals
The last period of madrigals was highlighted by two reforms, madrigals would take on a lighter tone incorporating more whimsy, and madrigals once a small, intimate performance, would be concertized. -
Famous Composer
The lifetime of Tomas Luis de Victoria, a Spanish composer during the Renaissance who composed mainly sacred music. -
Venetian Composer
The lifetime of Giovanni Gabrielli, a known composer in Venetian high Renaissance music who wrote instrumental and church music. -
English Composer
The lifetime of William Byrd, leading English composer of the late Renaissance who composed church, secular, consort, and keyboard music. -
European Composer
The lifetime of John Dowland, known for his lute music in Europe and composed beautiful melancholic music. -
Baroque
The Baroque period was an age of grandeur and emotion. Within this musical era was the widespread colonization of the globe, thus making the exchange of cultures and ideas across the globe much more prevalent. -
classical
The Classical period continued the reign of monarchy and elites in Europe but also brought more thought and reason to the continent. This era of music provided Western music with structure, including standard ensembles and music forms, but also contributed ideas of sharp contrast and emotion to music. -
Romanticism
The Romantic period was one of new ideas: namely, individualism and equality. These influenced the music of the Romantic era, which was more experimental than ever before. This period was full of expressiveness, creative use of musical techniques, and the development of new song forms.