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The medieval period saw the disintegration of the Roman Empire in the West, as well as the influence of Greek musical ideas on medieval church music and music theory transferred to the West by Boethius. During this time, the new religion of Christianity expanded, and many of Western civilization's concepts and institutions were established.
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This is a treatise on music theory written by Guido of Arezzo. It focuses on Gregorian chant and early polyphony. It was a widely influential work in the Middle Ages, known for its contributions to musical notation and the development of polyphony. -
Hildegard of Bingen was the most widely recorded and well-known composer of religious monophony. She was also well-known for her prophesies, having communications with emperors, kings, popes, and bishops and preached throughout Germany.
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Philippe de Virtry wrote this treatise, which featured artistic and technological innovations centered on rhythm and notation. This new form raised the question of whether a duple, or "imperfect," division of note values should be allowed alongside the traditional triple, or "perfect," division. Nonetheless, it remained a popular French compositional style. -
Following the medieval period, European culture, literature, art, and music saw significant changes. This shift restored knowledge of Ancient Greece and Rome's ideals, and values. This transformation brought with it new technologies, new methods to read and understand the Bible, literature in vernacular languages, and realism and perspective in painting.
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Martin Luther composed this chorale, which became the Reformation's anthem. These chorales were sung to commemorate the regular cycle of religious holidays by singing simple, metrical rhythms with rhyming verses. -
Jacques Arcadelt produced this madrigal, which is among the most well-known of the early madrigals. In this madrigal, he compares the swan's literal death to his own figurative death. It also contrasts a sweet, homophonic texture that conveys joy with the phrase "a thousand deaths a day" and its sexual overtones, which appear repeatedly. -
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina wrote this mass, which is supposed to have spared polyphony from being condemned by the Council of Trent. This six-voice mass was featured in Palestrina's Second Book of Masses. -
Tomás Luis de Victoria produced this mass as an imitation of his motet, O magnum mysterium. He used rising and falling fifths repeatedly throughout the piece to portray the magnitude, wonder, and mystery of Christ's birth. -
A Western classical style characterized by its dramatic, energetic, and grandiose attitude. It features complex ornamentation, contrasting elements, and a continuous bass line. The orchestra evolved during the Baroque period, with composers layering instruments in sophisticated harmony and polyphony.
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An opera based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, telling the story of his fall into Hades and his unsuccessful attempt to resurrect his dead bride Eurydice. -
Public concerts were an English invention, inspired by the presence of musicians in London, where low-income and middle-class audiences wanted to hear music but were unable to hire their own musicians -
A German composer and musician of the late Baroque period, prolific in almost every contemporary genre except opera. He was also a virtuoso organist and keyboard player, and skilled violinist.
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One of Vivaldi's nine concerto collections. It affected the development of the concerto form during the Baroque period and was one of the first collections of Italian concertos published outside of Italy. -
Rameau observed harmonic practices that he described and organized into universal rules, and he documented his methods in this treatise, which was one of the most influential theoretical works ever written, earning him a reputation as a theorist. -
This is one of the two books composed by Bach, each including 24 preludes and 24 fugues in all 24 major and minor keys. Although book 1 is more consistent in style and purpose than book 2, both books were created to investigate the possibility of performing in all keys on a piano tuned in near-equal temperament, which was then a unique concept. -
Franz Joseph Haydn was an Austrian Classical composer. He contributed significantly to the development of chamber music, including the string quartet and the piano trio.
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An oratorio that became Handel's most famous piece. It has an unusual libretto in that, rather than conveying a plot, it unfolds as a series of contemplations on the Christian concept of redemption utilizing Bible texts, beginning with Old Testament prophecies, and progressing through Christ's life and resurrection. -
A musical era in Vienna, shaped by composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. This period is distinguished by an emphasis on clarity, balance, and formal structure in music, moving away from the more complex sounds of the Baroque era.
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Mozart was an Austrian composer and child prodigy. Mozart began composing at the age of five and performed throughout Europe by the age of six. Mozart created more than 600 works, including operas, concertos, symphonies, chamber music, and sonatas.
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When François-Joseph Gossec was appointed director of the Concert Spirituel, St. George's acquired responsibility for the musical organization Concerts des Amateurs. He improved the orchestra's musicality and helped establish the symphonie concertante genre as an iconic form of French instrumental music.
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An opera in two acts, with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and an Italian libretto. It portrays the narrative of the infamous libertine Don Juan, also known as Don Giovanni, and his wild pursuit of seduction with little regard for consequences. -
A four-movement orchestral piece from Haydn's twelve "London Symphonies" famous for its unexpected loud chord in the second movement. The "surprise" is caused by an unexpected loud fortissimo chord that interrupts a quiet, peaceful theme in the second movement.