Download Composer Listening List By Historical Time Period General Music

Musical Time Period Characteristics
Medieval
500-1450
Renaissance
1450-1600
Baroque
1600-1750
Classical
1750-1820
Romantic
1820-1910
Modern
1910-Present
This time period
represents a 1000 years in
music but much of the
music is lost. People did
not live long in this period.
Renaissance
means “rebirth.”
Science and the
arts were
becoming more
important in
society.
Baroque
means highly
decorated. It is
full of
confidence
and is very
complicated.
Passion and
imagination was
extremely important
in this time not
reason or logic.
Composers are
very experimental
in this time
period. Music has
often broke free
of the traditions
of the past.
America was
discovered,
Shakespeare was
writing his famous
plays and
Michelangelo
painted the Sistene
chapel.
Music was very
structured and
emotions were
controlled. It was
tuneful and
simple. The size
of the orchestra
was small but
began to grow.
Musicians often
would make up
music as they
played called
“improvising.”
Composers were
anonymous. They believed
that signing your work was
bragging and would make
God unhappy.
Music was sung slowly
without rhythm or harmony
and was for sacred
purposes only.
Most music was not written
down. Composers who
worked for the catholic
church could publish
music because the church
could afford the materials.
Music notation appeared in
900AD but with pitch only.
Most music was sacred
(religious) but there was
some secular (nonreligious music) sung by
traveling musicians
(troubadours) who went
from town to town. Drums,
harps, bagpipes and
recorders were used by
these musicians.
Instrumental and
dance music
became more
popular.
The printing press
was invented so
that music could
be distributed
more easily.
Singers sang
acapella (without
accompaniment.)
Madrigals were a
popular musical
style.
Patrons (people
who support
music-kings,
queens, dukes)
would employ
musicians.
Opera first
appeared in this
time period.
Organ, violin
and harpsichord
were popular
instruments.
The piano was
not invented
yet. Composers
“ornamented”
(decorated) the
music they
created.
Music was not
too loud or soft,
fast or slow.
Nothing was
extreme.
Music was
balanced. ABA
(sonata form) was
the most
important
musical form.
The beginning
and the end was
the same (A) and
the middle (B)
was different.
The symphony
became popular
during this
musical time
period. This is a
large musical
work with four
movements.
Composers had
much more freedom
in their writing.
Emotions ruled the
their creations.
Piano was very
popular during this
time period.
The tuba and the
saxophone was
invented.
Composers used
musical storytelling
often in their pieces.
This was the time of
the virtuoso. These
performers were
very talented
musicians who
showed off their
skills on very
difficult pieces.
They were today’s
“rock stars.”
Rhythm is more
free and melody
isn’t always
tuneful.
Jazz was born in
America and has
had a huge impact
across the world.
There are a very
large amount of
musical styles
that have been
created in the
modern era.
Popular music is
a very important
development in
the modern era
(some examplesrock & roll,
country, r & b,
rap etc.)