Western classical
Main article: Classical music
Early music
Breves dies hominis
Duration: 3 minutes and 32 seconds.3:32
by Léonin or Pérotin
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Musical notation from a Catholic Missal, c. 1310–1320
The medieval music era (500 to 1400), which took place during the Middle Ages,
started with the introduction of monophonic (single melodic line) chanting into
Catholic Church services. Musical notation was used since ancient times in Greek
culture, but in the Middle Ages, notation was first introduced by the Catholic
Church, so chant melodies could be written down, to facilitate the use of the same
melodies for religious music across the Catholic empire. The only European Medieval
repertory that has been found, in written form, from before 800 is the monophonic
liturgical plainsong chant of the Catholic Church, the central tradition of which
was called Gregorian chant. Alongside these traditions of sacred and church music
there existed a vibrant tradition of secular song (non-religious songs). Examples
of composers from this period are Léonin, Pérotin, Guillaume de Machaut, and
Walther von der Vogelweide.[50][51][52][53]
Renaissance music (c. 1400 to 1600) was more focused on secular themes, such as
courtly love. Around 1450, the printing press was invented, which made printed
sheet music much less expensive and easier to mass-produce (prior to the invention
of the press, all notated music was hand-copied). The increased availability of
sheet music spread musical styles quicker and across a larger area. Musicians and
singers often worked for the church, courts and towns. Church choirs grew in size,
and the church remained an important patron of music. By the middle of the 15th
century, composers wrote richly polyphonic sacred music, in which different melody
lines were interwoven simultaneously. Prominent composers from this era include
Guillaume Du Fay, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Thomas Morley, Orlando di Lasso
and Josquin des Prez. As musical activity shifted from the church to aristocratic
courts, kings, queens and princes competed for the finest composers. Many leading
composers came from the Netherlands, Belgium, and France; they are called the
Franco-Flemish composers.[54] They held important positions throughout Europe,
especially in Italy. Other countries with vibrant musical activity included
Germany, England, and Spain.
Common practice period
Baroque
Main article: Baroque music
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Duration: 8 minutes and 34 seconds.8:34
Toccata and Fugue by J.S. Bach
Problems playing this file? See media help.
J. S. Bach
The Baroque era of music took place from 1600 to 1750, coinciding with the
flourishing of the Baroque artistic style in Europe. The start of the Baroque era
was marked by the penning of the first operas. Polyphonic contrapuntal music (music
with separate, simultaneous melodic lines) remained important during this period.
German Baroque composers wrote for small ensembles including strings, brass, and
woodwinds, as well as for choirs and keyboard instruments such as pipe organ,
harpsichord, and clavichord. Musical complexity increased during this time. Several
major musical forms were created, some of them which persisted into later periods,
seeing further development. These include the fugue, the invention, the sonata, and
the concerto.[55] The late Baroque style was polyphonically complex and richly
ornamented. Important composers from the Baroque era include Johann Sebastian Bach
(Cello suites), George Frideric Handel (Messiah), Georg Philipp Telemann and
Antonio Vivaldi (The Four Seasons).
Classicism
Main article: Classical period (music)
Symphony No. 40 G minor
Duration: 8 minutes and 14 seconds.8:14
Symphony 40 G minor by W.A. Mozart
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical
period.
The music of the Classical period (1Western classical
Main article: Classical music
Early music
Breves dies hominis
Duration: 3 minutes and 32 seconds.3:32
by Léonin or Pérotin
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Musical notation from a Catholic Missal, c. 1310–1320
The medieval music era (500 to 1400), which took place during the Middle Ages,
started with the introduction of monophonic (single melodic line) chanting into
Catholic Church services. Musical notation was used since ancient times in Greek
culture, but in the Middle Ages, notation was first introduced by the Catholic
Church, so chant melodies could be written down, to facilitate the use of the same
melodies for religious music across the Catholic empire. The only European Medieval
repertory that has been found, in written form, from before 800 is the monophonic
liturgical plainsong chant of the Catholic Church, the central tradition of which
was called Gregorian chant. Alongside these traditions of sacred and church music
there existed a vibrant tradition of secular song (non-religious songs). Examples
of composers from this period are Léonin, Pérotin, Guillaume de Machaut, and
Walther von der Vogelweide.[50][51][52][53]
Renaissance music (c. 1400 to 1600) was more focused on secular themes, such as
courtly love. Around 1450, the printing press was invented, which made printed
sheet music much less expensive and easier to mass-produce (prior to the invention
of the press, all notated music was hand-copied). The increased availability of
sheet music spread musical styles quicker and across a larger area. Musicians and
singers often worked for the church, courts and towns. Church choirs grew in size,
and the church remained an important patron of music. By the middle of the 15th
century, composers wrote richly polyphonic sacred music, in which different melody
lines were interwoven simultaneously. Prominent composers from this era include
Guillaume Du Fay, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Thomas Morley, Orlando di Lasso
and Josquin des Prez. As musical activity shifted from the church to aristocratic
courts, kings, queens and princes competed for the finest composers. Many leading
composers came from the Netherlands, Belgium, and France; they are called the
Franco-Flemish composers.[54] They held important positions throughout Europe,
especially in Italy. Other countries with vibrant musical activity included
Germany, England, and Spain.
Common practice period
Baroque
Main article: Baroque music
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Duration: 8 minutes and 34 seconds.8:34
Toccata and Fugue by J.S. Bach
Problems playing this file? See media help.
J. S. Bach
The Baroque era of music took place from 1600 to 1750, coinciding with the
flourishing of the Baroque artistic style in Europe. The start of the Baroque era
was marked by the penning of the first operas. Polyphonic contrapuntal music (music
with separate, simultaneous melodic lines) remained important during this period.
German Baroque composers wrote for small ensembles including strings, brass, and
woodwinds, as well as for choirs and keyboard instruments such as pipe organ,
harpsichord, and clavichord. Musical complexity increased during this time. Several
major musical forms were created, some of them which persisted into later periods,
seeing further development. These include the fugue, the invention, the sonata, and
the concerto.[55] The late Baroque style was polyphonically complex and richly
ornamented. Important composers from the Baroque era include Johann Sebastian Bach
(Cello suites), George Frideric Handel (Messiah), Georg Philipp Telemann and
Antonio Vivaldi (The Four Seasons).
Classicism
Main article: Classical period (music)
Symphony No. 40 G minor
Duration: 8 minutes and 14 seconds.8:14
Symphony 40 G minor by W.A. Mozart
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical
period.
The music of the Classical period (1
