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1551
Giulio Caccini (c.1551-1618)
Giulio Caccini was an Italian singer and composer of the Baroque era. He focused on monodic music, solo madrigals, arias, and evocative chords.One of Caccini's most notable works would be his aria, "The New Music". Francesca Caccini, another composer mentioned in this timeline, was his daughter. -
1567
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian musician and composer of the Baroque era. He was the most important developer in the creation of operas and did wonders in bringing a modern approach to secular music in the church. Monteverdi also published many books and his most notable work would probably be his aria, "Lamento". -
Period: 1580 to
Early Baroque
Early Baroque consists of figured bass, operas, harmony, the harpsichord, harmonic progression, a focus on the key, closure at the end of the piece, and tonality. -
Francesca Caccini (1587-c.1641)
Francesca Caccini was an Italian singer and composer of the Baroque era. She was the daughter of Giulio Caccini (also mentioned in timeline) and was one of a couple women that had works published in 17th-century Europe. Caccini published madrigals and also worked with her father in the Medici Court in Florence. -
Period: to
Baroque Genres
Operas, suites, oratorios, arias, sonatas, madrigals, and various church works were popular. -
Jamestown
The Jamestown Settlement was established, which was the first successful English settlement. -
Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677)
Barbara Strozzi was an Italian singer and composer of the Baroque era. She was one of a couple women to have works published in 17th-century Europe. Strozzi was the daughter of the poet, Giulio Strozzi, who advanced her career with his connections in the intellectual world. She also published many madrigals. -
Pilgrims
The Pilgrims made their voyage to North America. -
Period: to
Middle Baroque
Middle Baroque consists of operas, orchestras, cantatas, oratorios, harmony, dynamics, sacred dramatic works, and a simpler melodic style. -
First Opera House
The Teatro San Cassiano in Venice was the first public opera house opened. -
English Civil War
The English Civil War began in 1642 and lasted until 1651. -
Heinrich Biber (1644-1704)
Heinrich Biber was a Bohemian musician and composer of the Baroque era. His most notable work would be "Mystery Sonatas". Biber played the violin and spent most of his life in the Salzburg Court. He mostly composed sonatas and even composed a mass. -
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
Arcangelo Corelli was an Italian musician and composer of the Baroque era. He was known for his influence on the development of violin style, his sonatas, and his 12 Concerti Grossi, which established the concerto grosso as a popular type of composition. -
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Henry Purcell was an English composer of the Baroque era. He was the most famous and original English composer of his time and known for over 100 songs. Purcell wrote for the church, the stage, the court, and private entertainment. His tragic opera, "Dido and Aeneas", is probably his most notable work. -
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian composer of the Baroque era. He composed operas and religious works. Scarlatti's son was Domenico Scarlatti, another composer mentioned on this timeline. Alessandro Scarlatti also won the protection of Christina of Sweden because of his first 115 operas and remained in her protection until 1684. "Il Mitridate Eupatore" was his most notable work. -
Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre (c.1666-1729)
Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre was a French musician, singer, and composer of the Baroque era. She was the first woman to compose an opera in France and also played the harpsichord and organ. Jacquet was also taken into the court of Louis XIV as a musician at the age of 15. -
François Couperin (1668-1733)
François Couperin was a French musician, teacher, and composer of the Baroque era. “Leçons de ténèbres” was his most notable work. Couperin was also one of the 4 organists in the royal chapel of the Church of Saint-Gervais. He is famous for his 4 harpsichord suite books and trio sonatas. -
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Antonio Vivaldi was an Italian musician, director, and composer of the Baroque era. He made a huge impact on concerto form and the style of late Baroque music. Vivaldi was most known for his outstanding "Four Seasons". He learned musical things from his father and played violin alongside him. Vivaldi was even appointed to priest at one point and also created many trio sonatas and violin sonatas. -
Period: to
Late Baroque
Late Baroque consists of tragic operas, sonatas, suites, orchestras, instrumental music, harmonic progression, dynamics, and a more Classical sound. -
Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767)
Georg Philip Telemann was a German musician, conductor, and composer of the Baroque era. He composed sacred and secular works and was most known for his church compositions. Telemann was discouraged by his family to not pursue a musical career because it wasn't attractive, but he did so anyways. -
Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682-1738)
Jean-Joseph Mouret was a French composer of the Baroque era. He composed dramatic works that made him one of the leading composers in France. "Fanfare Rondeau" from his "Suite of Symphonies" is Mouret's most notable work. Fun fact: That exact piece has now become the signature tune of the PBS program "Masterpiece". -
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian musician and composer of the Baroque era. He was the son of Alessandro Scarlatti (mentioned in this timeline) and continued his use of harpsichord in music. Scarlatti was known for his 555 keyboard sonatas. Fun fact: He was also born in the same year as Bach and Handel. -
G. F. Handel (1685-1759)
G. F. Handel was a German-English musician, director, and composer of the Baroque era. He is most known for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. "Messiah" and "Water Music" are 2 of Handel's most famous works. He was also a composer of the Chapel Royal, made oratorios popular, and composed over 40 operas. -
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
J. S. Bach was a German musician, director, and composer of the Baroque era. He is now considered one of the greatest composers of all time, even though he wasn't back then. Bach was able to study and bring together the principal styles, forms, and national traditions that had developed during earlier generations and then enrich them all. -
Newton's Law of Gravitation
Newton published his Law of Gravitation in 1687. -
Tuning Fork Invented
A tuning fork is an acoustic resonator in the form of a two-pronged fork with the prongs formed from a U-shaped bar of elastic metal. It resonates at a specific constant pitch by striking it against a surface or with an object. It then produces a pure musical tone once the high overtones fade out. -
Piano Created
Bartolomeo Cristofori created the first piano around 1720, which was revolutionary for musicians.