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101 BCE
Epitaph of Seikilos
The oldest known piece of music, inscribed on a tombstone. -
Period: 476 to 1453
Middle Ages
It is the second of the three traditional divisions of Western history: antiquity, medieval, and modern. -
900
Gregorian Chant
A style of sacred vocal music of the Catholic Church, popular in the Middle Ages -
991
Guido d'Arezzo
Italian monk, creator of the modern music notation system. -
1098
Hildegard von Bingen
German composer and mystic, a pioneer in liturgical music. -
1130
Bernart de Ventadorn
Provençal troubadour known for lyric poetry and music. -
1135
Leonin
Composer associated with the Notre Dame School, a pioneer in organum. -
1150
Ars Antiqua
Medieval music period characterized by the development of organum. -
1155
Perotin
One of the earliest polyphonic composers from the Notre Dame School. -
1221
Alfonso X
Spanish king, promoter of music and culture, author of the Cantigas. -
1300
Guillaume de Machaut
French composer and poet, key figure of Ars Nova. -
1325
Francesco Landini
Italian composer and master of the trecento, known for his ballads. -
Period: 1375 to
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that revived interest in classical art, science, and philosophy. -
1400
Johannes Gutenberg
Inventor of the printing press, revolutionized music distribution. -
1400
Ars Nova
Period that renewed rhythmic and polyphonic music in France and Italy. -
1468
Juan del Encina
Spanish poet and musician, precursor of Renaissance musical drama. -
1483
Martin Luther
German religious reformer, introduced choral singing in liturgy. -
1500
Cristóbal de Morales
Spanish composer, among the first to bring Renaissance style to Rome. -
1510
Antonio de Cabezón
Spanish composer and organist, known for keyboard music. -
1525
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Italian composer, master of Renaissance sacred music -
1532
Orlando di Lasso
Franco-Flemish composer renowned for polyphonic vocal music. -
1533
Andrea Gabrieli
Italian composer, pioneer of the Venetian style of music. -
1544
Maddalena Casulana
Italian composer, first woman to publish her works. -
1548
Tomás Luis de Victoria
Spanish composer, a master of Renaissance sacred music. -
1557
Giovanni Gabrieli
Italian composer, famous for his works for brass ensembles. -
1566
Carlo Gesualdo
Italian prince and composer known for expressive, dissonant music. -
1567
Claudio Monteverdi
Italian composer, one of the first to develop opera. -
Period: 1580 to
Baroque
The Baroque was an artistic and cultural movement of the 17th century characterized by excessive ornamentation, emotional contrasts, and a pessimistic view of life, reflecting the social, religious, and political tensions of the time. -
Giacomo Carissimi
Italian composer, a pioneer of the Baroque oratorio. -
Barbara Strozzi
Italian composer, renowned for her sacred and secular vocal music. -
Stradivarius (Antonio Stradivari)
Italian luthier, creator of world-renowned violins. -
Henry Purcell
English composer, influential in English Baroque music. -
George Philipp Telemann
English composer, influential in English Baroque music. -
Antonio Vivaldi
Italian composer, famous for concertos, especially The Four Seasons. -
Georg Friedrich Handel
German composer, known for oratorios like The Messiah. -
Johann Sebastian Bach
German composer, one of the greatest figures in Baroque music. -
Christoph Willibald Gluck
A German composer known for his operas, particularly reforming opera by focusing on the dramatic aspect of the music. His opera Orfeo ed Euridice is one of his most famous works. -
Joseph Haydn
An Austrian composer often referred to as the "Father of the Symphony" and the "Father of the String Quartet." His contributions to the development of classical music were foundational, with symphonies like Surprise and The London Symphonies being iconic examples. -
Nannerl Mozart
Sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nannerl was a talented musician and composer, though her career was overshadowed by her brother's fame. -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
One of the greatest and most influential composers in Western classical music. Known for his immense body of work, including symphonies, operas, chamber music, and choral pieces. His music, such as The Magic Flute and Requiem, remains widely performed. -
Maria Theresia von Paradis
Austrian pianist, singer, and composer, known for her compositions and her resilience after becoming blind at an early age. -
Ludwig van Beethoven
A German composer and pianist whose works bridged the Classical and Romantic periods. His symphonies, particularly the 9th Symphony, were revolutionary and deeply emotional, changing the landscape of Western music forever. -
Franz Schubert
Austrian composer who bridged the Classical and Romantic eras, known for his symphonies, chamber music, and over 600 art songs.