Timeline Ana y Paula

The Epitaph of Siculus

200 BCE

The Epitaph of Siculus is the oldest known complete musical piece, created in the 1st or 2nd century AD. It is inscribed on a marble column over the tomb of his wife Euterpe, near present-day Aydın in Turkey. Although there are older songs, only fragments of them have survived. The author of the epitaph is unknown.

Middle Ages

Period: 476 to 1492

The Middle Ages, also known as the Medieval Period, was the historical period in Europe that began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and ended with the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 or with the discovery of America in 1492.

Gregorian chant

800

Gregorian chant is a style of liturgical music of the Catholic Church, developed between the 9th and 11th centuries (800 aC/ 1200 aC). It is characterized by its monophonic melody and is sung a cappella, without instruments. It is in Latin and is used in the Mass and religious rituals. Its name comes from Pope Gregory I, who is associated with its compilation and organization.

Guido of Arezzo

992

Guido of Arezzo (992-1050) was an Italian Benedictine monk and music theorist, fundamental to medieval music. He developed a system of musical notation and a singing method based on the syllables ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. His treatise Micrologus is the first complete analysis of musical practice, used in monasteries and universities, and is preserved in at least 70 manuscripts. The Catholic Church celebrates his feast day on March 31.

Hildegarda of Bingen

1098

Hildegarda of Bingen (1098-1179) was a German Benedictine abbess and polymath, known as a composer, writer, and mystic of the High Middle Ages. She founded the monasteries of Rupertsberg and Eibingen and is famous for her works of sacred monophony and her treatise on natural history. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI granted her the title of Doctor of the Church in recognition of her holiness and teachings.

Bernart de Ventadorn

1145

Bernart de Ventadorn (1145-1190) was a renowned troubadour, composer, and poet from the Provence region. He is considered one of the most prominent troubadours of the trobar leu style, which is characterized by its light and melodious tone.

Léonin

1150

Léonin (1150-1201), also known as Magister Leoninus , is one of the first known composers of polyphonic organum, associated with the Notre Dame School. An anonymous English monk, now referred to as Anonymous IV, stated a century after his death that Léonin was the best composer of organum for liturgical purposes, and this is the only surviving written reference to him.

Ars Antiqua

Period: 1150 to 1300

The Ars Antiqua was a key period in European polyphonic music, centered in France and marked by advancements in musical notation. Composers like Léonin and Pérotin developed complex works at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. This style laid the foundations for Western music and paved the way for the Ars Nova in the 14th century.

Pérotin

1155

Pérotin (1155-1238) was a composer of the Ars Antiqua at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, active in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Known for his contribution to polyphony, his most famous work, "Viderunt omnes,"is notable for its use of independent voices. His work was key in the evolution of medieval music and laid the foundations for polyphony.

Alfonso X de Castilla

1221

Alfonso X de Castilla (1221-1284), known as "the Wise," advanced the Reconquista, dealt with internal uprisings, and promoted cultural development, with highlights such as the Cantigas de Santa María and the work of the School of Translators of Toledo. In 1935, his contributions to astronomy were honored by naming the lunar crater Alphonsus after him.

Guillaume de Machaut

1300

Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) was a French cleric, poet, and composer, recognized as a leading figure of the Ars Nova movement and the most prominent composer of the 14th century. He significantly contributed to the motet and secular song and is known for his Messe de Nostre Dame, the first polyphonic mass by a single composer, influencing later music in both sacred and secular contexts.

Ars Nova

Period: 1300 to 1377

The Ars Nova was a musical style of the 14th century in France and Italy, characterized by innovations in rhythmic notation that allowed for more complex rhythms. Composers like Philippe de Vitry and Guillaume de Machaut introduced new forms, such as the isorhythmic motet. This style laid the foundations for Renaissance music.

Francesco Landini

1325

Francesco Landini (1325-1397) was an Italian composer, organist, vocalist, poet, instrument maker, and astrologer. He was among the most celebrated and respected composers of the late 14th century and is regarded as the most notable composer in Italy during that period.

Johannes Gutenberg

1397

Johannes Gutenberg (1397-3 February 1468) was a German inventor who developed the modern printing press. His 42-line Bible was the first significant book printed with this method, facilitating the spread of Protestant Reformation ideas. His invention is regarded as a cornerstone of modern history, although details about his life remain scarce.

Juan del Encina

1468

Juan del Encina (1468-1529) was a Spanish composer and writer of the Renaissance, known for his villancicos and romances. He worked in the courts of the Catholic Monarchs and of Navarra, and is recognized as one of the first to integrate music and theater in Spain. His work had a significant impact on vocal music and the development of theater in his time.

Martin Luther

Nov 10, 1483

Martin Luther (10 November 1483-18 February 1546) was a German theologian who triggered the Protestant Reformation in 1517 by publishing his 95 Theses against the practices of the Catholic Church. He argued that salvation is achieved through faith alone and translated the Bible into German, allowing more people direct access to the Scriptures. His ideas founded Lutheranism and profoundly transformed religion and society in Europe.

Cristóbal de Morales

1500

Cristóbal de Morales (1500-1553) was a Spanish Renaissance composer, known for his sacred works, especially masses and motets. His polyphonic approach, influenced by the Italian Renaissance, left a significant mark in his time. He worked in several churches in Spain, and his music had a major impact on liturgical music.

Antonio de Cabezón

1510

Antonio de Cabezón (1510-26 March 1566) was a prominent Spanish composer and organist of the Renaissance, blind from a young age. He served in the courts of Charles I and Philip II, and his keyboard music was innovative and highly influential in Europe. His son Hernando compiled his works in the book Obras de música para tecla, arpa y vihuela.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

1525

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-2 February 1597) was an Italian Renaissance composer famous for his sacred music and mastery of counterpoint. He was a leading figure of the Roman school, and his works, including masses and motets, remain central to sacred and polyphonic music.

Orlando di Lasso

1532

Orlando di Lasso (c. 1532- 14 June 1594) was a Renaissance composer, famous for his sacred and secular music. He was born in Belgium and worked in Munich as a musical director. With over 2,000 compositions to his name, he was known for his mastery of counterpoint and his ability to express emotions through music.

Maddalena Casulana

1544

Maddalena Casulana (1544-1590) was an Italian composer and singer of the Renaissance, noted for being one of the first women to publish her music under her own name. Her madrigals are admired for their expressiveness and mastery of counterpoint. Her work had a significant influence on the vocal music of her time.

Tomás Luis de Victoria

1548

Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548- 20 August 1611) was a Spanish Renaissance composer, known for his sacred music. His polyphonic style, influenced by Palestrina, is characterized by its intense emotional expression. He composed mainly masses and motets and worked in important religious institutions in Spain.

Giovanni Gabrieli

1554

Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1554- 12 August 1612) was an Italian composer known for his vocal and instrumental music. He worked at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, where he innovated by placing musicians in different locations. His compositions, such as motets and canzonas, were key in the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque and had a significant influence on the music of the time.

Carlo Gesualdo

Mar 8, 1566

Carlo Gesualdo (8 March 1566-8 September 1613) was an Italian Renaissance composer, known for his madrigals and motets, which stand out for their innovative use of dissonance and abrupt tonal changes. His life was marked by a tragic scandal: he killed his wife and her lover after discovering their infidelity. Although his work was not widely recognized in his time, it later had a significant influence on Baroque music.

Antonio Vivaldi

Mar 4, 1678

Antonio Vivaldi (4 de marzo de 1678-28 de julio de 1741) was an Italian composer and violinist from the Baroque period, best known for his work "The Four Seasons."He spent much of his career as a teacher at an orphanage in Venice, where he stood out for his violin skills and innovative approach to concertos. His music, which left a significant mark on the Baroque era, was forgotten after his death but was rediscovered in the 20th century, gaining great prestige and recognition in classical music