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395
Fall of Rome (395)
The Western Roman empire collapses leaving no central power in Europe. After its collapse many smaller states would form and try to seize control for influence in Europe. -
410
Development of Plainchant (410)
Due to the rule of the Catholic Church and its belief that all music is sacred, plainchant developed in Catholic Churches that began to grow in quantity during the middle ages. Plainchant are sacred songs that were almost always monophonic. The were almost always unaccompanied, free of rhythm, and had a limited range. Most early plainchant were never written down but instead only passed on aurally. -
410
Medieval Church Modes
The Catholic Church had modes, or arrangements of major scales by whole and half steps, that could only be used during Church liturgies. Each mode had a unique arrangement can could be transposed. They where split into two types: Authentic with Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian. Plagal with Hypodorian, hypophrygian, hypolydian, and hypomixolydian. -
476
Medieval Views of Music
Medieval music was split into two beliefs: Cosmic, which believed that music was created by the stars and the earth and Divine, which came directly from God. -
Period: 476 to 1400
The Medieval Era (476-1400)
The Medieval Era, also known as The Middle Ages, was a time which saw a slight decrease in European power following the fall of The Western Roman Empire which, would last until the renaissance era. During this time the population of Europe began to greatly increase. -
Period: 476 to 800
The Dark Ages (476-800)
The Dark Ages marks a very unstable time in Europe that was filled with conflict and war. There was no great power in Europe such as The Roman or Holy Roman Empire, and thus many states fought for control. This era marked cultural, economic, and intellectual decline in Europe. -
590
Gregorian Chant (590)
Gregorian Chant where chants that have roots in old plainchant. They are the Roman dialect of chant primarily used by the Catholic Church and were reorganized and cataloged by Pope Gregory, hence the name Gregorian. Most Gregorian chants of this time are responsorial and are set both neumatically and melismatically. -
Period: 632 to 710
Rise of Islam (632-710)
Islam is founded in modern day Saudi Arabia in the year 610 by Muhammed. After his death the religion quickly spreads all throughout the Middle East and eventually into Europe. Islamic influence would continue to clash with the culture of Europe for many years after its spread. Today Islam is the worlds second largest religion only after Christianity. -
800
Neumes
Neumes were the method of musical notation prior to the development of the five line staff notation. The earliest Neumes only told general shape, not the exact note or rhythm that needed to be sung. -
800
Development of Polyphony
Both Polyphony and notation began to develop around the Romanesque era and was taught in many schools throughout Europe including The School of Notre Dam. -
Period: 850 to 1150
The Romanesque Era (850-1150)
The Romanesque Era was a combination and revitalization of old Roman and Byzantine ideas throughout the middle ages. It is best remembered today through its architecture. It was also known for its more vigorous style of art. -
900
Organum (900s)
Organum is best described as Plainchant with an added melody. This results in chants that are sung in parallel 4ths and 5ths. 3rds were believed to be too dissonant and were rarely used. There was also Discant Organum which was the first Organum that had a notated rhythm. -
991
Guido D'arezzo (991-1033)
Guido d'arezzo, born in Italy on around 991, is credited with "inventing" the modern day staff. Some of his biggest suggestions include using a red line to indicate the f and yellow for c. -
Period: 1095 to 1291
The Crusades (1095-1291)
The Crusades were religious wars between Christians and Muslims that primarily focused on reconquering many holy sites through out The Holy Land (modern day Israel). There were eight Crusades in total over 200 years with most of them ending in failure for the Christians. -
1098
Hildegard Von Bingen (1098-1179)
Hildegard von Bingen or Saint Hildegard was a German Benedictine abbess and founder of the convent at Rupertsburg Germany. She was believed to have prophetic abilities and was believed to have many revelations throughout her life. She was also well known for writing many liturgical dramas and religious poems. She is believed to be the first female composer in contemporary music. -
1135
Leonin (1135-1201)
Leonin is believed to be the earliest significant composer of polyphonic organum. Although not much is known about him he is believed to have been French and a part of The Notre Dame School. -
Period: 1150 to 1450
The Gothic Era (1150-1450)
The Gothic Era was a medieval art style originating in northern France. Some famous types of art from this period include sculptures, stained glass murals, and panel paintings. -
1160
Perotin (1160-1230)
Perotin was believed to be a French composer who was a part of The Notre Dame School of polyphony. Not much else is know about him but he is believed to have written many of the earliest polyphonic pieces for the Catholic Church and that he may have studied with Leonin -
Period: 1160 to 1250
The Notre Dame School (1160-1450)
The Notre Dame School is a group of music writers who practiced Polyphonic style of music around the area of the Notre Dame Cathedral. -
1180
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras (1180-1207)
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras or Vaqueyras was a French nobleman and later knight was wrote many poems and songs before he was killed during the crusades. -
1200
Medieval Motet (1200s)
By the time of the 1200s composers began to write new texts and music. This resulted in Medieval Motet which was more text than chant and had rhythmic modes. Its also around this time more instruments are included instead of only voice. -
1291
Phillipe de Vitry (1291-1361)
Phillipe de Verde was a French composer and the first of the Ars Nova style who is also though to have been the one to originally written about it in the Ars Nova treatise. -
1300
Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
Guillaume de Machaut was a French composer who was one of the lead artists in the Ars Nova style. He is believed to have created one of the earliest polyphonic mass cycles. He was so influential in Nova style that his death is seen as the end of that era. -
1300
Instrumental Music (1300s)
Instrumental music began to develop near the end of the Medieval Era, primarily due to technological advancements and the Ars Nova style starting to move away from voice only music. Some early instruments include the recorder, harp, crumhorn, organ, and psaltery. -
Period: 1300 to 1350
The Ars Nova (13-1350
The Ars Nova or The New Arts was an era where composers wrote in new forms of music, including new forms of polyphony and Notre Dame Organum. Most innovations were in rhythm. Some ideas from Ars Nova would not reappear until the 20th century. Italy also had a similar style at this time called Trecento -
1325
Francesco Landini (1325-1397)
Francesco Landini was an Italian composer and music theorist who was the most famous Italian composer of the Medieval Era and was known for being blind. -
Period: 1346 to 1353
The Black Death (1346-1353)
The Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, was one of the most catastrophic pandemics in recorded history. It was thought to have originated in China and brought to Europe by Italian merchants. It is also believed to have killed anywhere between 25-200 million people or 1/3 of Europe or around 20-40% of the entire world population. -
Period: 1378 to 1417
The Great Schism (1378-1417)
The Great Schism was a split between The Catholic Church which ended in the formation of two primary churches. The Eastern Orthodox Church, primarily in eastern Europe along with The Western Catholic Church , primarily in western Europe. The Catholic Church had a large control and impact on music and would eventually become corrupt over time -
1390
John Dunstaple (1390-1453)
John Dunstaple was an English composer and one of the most influential English composers of the Renaissance Era. He was famous for starting to use more 3rds and 6ths than composers before him. -
1430
Renaissance Music
Renaissance Music was defined by the rise ins secularism along with new instruments and new genres such as Italian Madrigals, French Chansons, and Italian Frottola. Some popular composers from this time include Jacques Arcadelt (1507-1568), and John Farmer (1570-1603). -
Period: 1430 to
The Renaissance Era (1430-1600)
The Renaissance Era was the rediscovery of classical philosophy, art, literature, and culture throughout most of Europe. It changed the way many people thought and had many technological and cultural developments that begin to bridge the gap into modern day. -
1435
Jehan le Taintenier (1435-1511)
Jehan le Taintenier or Johannes Tinctoris was a Renaissance composer and music theorist who wrote one of the original dictionaries over musical terminologies. -
1453
Fall of The Byzantine Empire (1453)
The Byzantine Empire (or Eastern Roman Empire) falls to The Ottoman Empire in 1453. The Ottomans would eventually reach into Europe and spread their culture throughout parts of southern Europe -
1500
High Renaissance Style (1500s)
The High Renaissance Style is classified by the high number of new Madrigals and Dances. It was pioneered by Palestrina. -
1505
Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)
Thomas Tallis was an English Renaissance composer best known for his Choral music. He was also known for being very famous in his time and wrote music for English royalty. -
Period: 1517 to
The Protestant Reformation (1517-1648)
The Protestant Reformation was a widespread religious movement that tried to break away from the corruption of The Catholic Church. It allowed for personal interpretations of Christianity. Protestant Christianity became the dominant religion in many European countries. -
1521
Josquin des Prez (1450-1521)
Josquin des Prez was a French composer who was considered to be one of the first masters of Complex Renaissance style. His music was known to be filled with emotion and was so popular many people tried to take credit for his work. -
1525
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
Palestrina was and Italian composer and one of the most famous and influential composers from the Renaissance. He is best known for writing sacred music and being the most famous representative of the Roman School of musical composition.
