Middle Ages Musical Style Period (400-1450)
Noted mainly for monophonic compositions that were primarily vocal-based, and when instruments were used, they usually double or accompanied voices. The plainchant mass was the primary musical form of the Middle Ages style period. The harmonic structure was modal, the beginning of harmony started in the later period of the Middle Ages.
Representative composers of this period: Leonin, Perotin, and Machaut.
Leonin
(1150-1201)
Leonin was a church composer for the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. In 1170, he wrote one of the first songbooks for the monks to sing from Magnus Liber Organi (Great Book of Organum), a collection of two-voice settings of plainchant melodies. This collection was the beginning of polyphony.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p9WQlyVPrA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mYfzf5O8QY
Perotin
(1164-1238)
Perotin was a church composer and music teacher for the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. He is most noted for composing organa, which was the earliest type of polyphonic music. He pioneered the styles of organum triplum and organum quadruplum (three and four-part polyphony).
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbzw3B6jklU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuFNGNwJN2s
Machaut
(Guillaume de Machaut / 1300-1377)
Machaut was a French composer and poet who was the most famous composer of the ars nova style in the late middle-ages. He composed both sacred and secular music. As a sacred composer, he composed Messe de Notre Dame, which is the earliest known complete setting of the Ordinary of the Mass. He is also known for the creation of the motet. He also composed polyphonic instrumental music for the purpose of social dance.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11A4wqv8_wo
left
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_7aSukpVsA
Motet 1 - S'il estoit nuls qui pleindre se deust
Motet 2 - Et gaudebit cor vestrum
Motet 3 - Et non est qui adjuvet
Motet 4 - Fine Amour (Instrumental)
Renaissance Musical Style Period (1450-1600)
Noted mainly for polyphonic choral music; however, instrumental music grew in popularity during this time. The vocal forms of composition during this time were the madrigal, motet, mass, and chorale. The instrumental forms of composition were Canzona and Ricercare. The harmonic structure was modal, though leading to a major/minor tonal system. There was also the gradual development of a triadic harmonic language. Representative composers of this period: Josquin, Palestrina, and Monteverdi.
Josquin des Prez
(c. 1450-1455 - 1521)
He is considered one of the greatest composers of high renaissance music. He developed a complex style of expressive music between independent voices, emphasizing the relationship between music and text. In a departure from early Renaissance music which tended towards lengthy melismatic lines on a single syllable, Josquin preferred to use shorter, repeated motifs between voices. As a vocalist himself, most of Josquin’s compositions are for vocals.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMQ4PXySvTU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UStX-kdE-tM
Palestrina
(Giovanni Pierluigi dal Palestrina, c. 1525 - 1594)
An Italian composer known for his masses and motets. He was known for his innovation in polyphony, a musical setting with multiple voices performing independent melodies which sound together harmonically. The “Palestrina Style” is typified by a primary focus on graceful melodic smoothness and a secondary focus on the careful treatment of dissonance.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRfF7W4El60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGH_ksmz92s
Monteverdi
(Claudio Monteverdi, 1567 - 1643
An Italian composer and most important developer of the opera.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GYjNj75MFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUep3sqe35o
Baroque Musical Style Period (1600-1750)
From the production of the first opera to the death of J. S. Bach. During this stylistic period, while vocal music moved toward homophony, polyphonic instrumental music gained prominence. The forms of vocal music that emerged were opera, cantata, and the oratorio, while forms of instrumental music were the toccata, fugue, dance suites, and concerto grosso. The harmonic language changed from modality to tonality, clear major/minor key centers with secondary chords and modulation, and harmony was greater defined by the basso continuo. Representative composers of this period: Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel.
Vivaldi
(Antonio Vivaldi, 1678 - 1741)
An Italian composer and exceptional violinist known for composing many instrumental concertos, sacred choral works, and operas. His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as the Four Seasons.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRxofEmo3HA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMHguvZPcqQ
Bach
(Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685 - 1750)
German composer considered one of the greatest of all time. His compositions include examples of all major genres of the time except opera. He was an outstanding organist and harpsichordist, and an expert on organ building.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEHGxpRoZQM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdsyNwUoON0
Handel
(George Frideric Handel, 1685 - 1759)
A German-born English composer noted for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. His most famous oratorio is the Messiah, first performed in 1742, and is still widely performed today.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuw8YjSbKd4
Classical Musical Style Period (1750-1825)
From the death of J.S. Bach to the end of the Napoleonic Era. The texture of music of this period was generally homophonic, with emphasis on balance and symmetry. Instrumental music surpassed vocal music in prominence. The main instrumental forms during this time were the symphony, solo concerto, and sonata. The main vocal forms were opera and extended choral works. The harmonic language was tonal, however less ornate and chromatic than Baroque music; basso continuo was abandoned. Representative composers of this period: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Haydn
(Franz Joseph Haydn / 1732-1809)
An Austrian composer that was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and the piano trio. He helped establish the symphony as a musical form. He was the first to compose for the wind band as a separate ensemble from the orchestra. He also wrote extended works for orchestra and chorus in the forms of oratorios and masses. He was the composition teacher to Ludwig van Beethoven
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBmCcSz6HWw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTYJm5Ae0Xo
Mozart
(Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / 1756-1791)
Mozart was child prodigy both as a performer (violin) and composer. He composed in all the musical genres of his day (with more than 800 works attributed to him) but excelled at composing symphonies and operas. Mozart is widely regarded as among the greatest composers in the history of Western music with his music admired for its melodic beauty, its formal elegance and its richness of harmony and texture.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuBeBjqKSGQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkN8UFNVVOo
Beethoven
(Ludwig van Beethoven / 1770-1827)
Born in Germany to a musical family he soon became a prodigy pianist and composer. At 21, he moved to Vienna to study composition with Haydn. He was noted for writing symphonies, concertos, and piano sonatas. He composed one opera, Fideio. Beethoven’s artistry was cut short because he went deaf at an early age. However, his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ5qJrtxWzs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOjHhS5MtvA
Romantic Musical Style Period (1825-1900)
From the end of the Napoleonic Era to the turn of the 20th century. The texture of music during this period was mainly homophonic with emphasis on personal expression, taken to the extremes of the scale (miniature and grand) with expanded dynamics and greater timbral colors. The main forms of instrumental music during this period were program music and tone poems. Piano music was the dominant expression of musical compositions. The main forms of vocal music during this period were art songs, song cycles, and opera. The harmonic language of this period was extended tonality that was highly chromatic with increasing dissonance, remote modulations, and non-functional harmony. Representative composers of this period: Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, and Brahms.
Schubert
(Franz Peter Schubert / 1797-1828)
Austrian organist, violinist, and violist and composer who bridged the worlds of Classical to Romantic style periods. His music is noted for the melody and harmony in his songs and chamber music. He also wrote symphonies, masses, and piano works.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tisvEpblig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja5hQH9USIU
Schumann
(Robert Alexander Schumann / 1810-1856)
German pianist and composer renowned particularly for his piano music, songs, and orchestral music. Many of his best-known piano pieces were written for his wife, concert pianist, Clara Schumann.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jbHbDena_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=523_vmxgvyM
Chopin
(Frederic Francois Chopin / 1810-1849)
Polish composer and virtuoso pianist, who wrote primarily for solo piano. He also wrote two piano concertos, and some chamber music.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jbHbDena_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=523_vmxgvyM
Brahms
(Johannes Brahms / 1833-1897)
German composer and pianist who wrote symphonies, concerti, chamber music, piano works, choral compositions, and more than 300 songs. He was the great master of both the symphonic and sonata styles.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hujWwmYdUWw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCGdSPcWzek&list=RD4JvxGI25Alc&index=8
Post-Romanticism and Impressionism Musical Style Period (1875-1920)
The texture of music during this period was homophonic with particular emphasis on the sound quality of individual chords rather than their functionality. The forms of music during this period were highly individualized and often based on visual models. The tonal centers were retained, but functional harmony was replaced by increased use of modes and synthetic scales. Representative composers of this period: Debussy, Ravel, and Strauss.
Debussy
(Claude Debussy / 1862-1918)
French composer who developed a highly originals system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideas to which the Impressionist painters and writers of his time aspired. He was a gifted pianist. He wrote for the piano and orchestra. He abounded the structure of the symphony and formed his own orchestral structure which he called symphonic sketches or symphonic poems. He also wrote for the solo voice and for the chorale.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c977QdbTImU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_kiMeYKJbY
Ravel
(Maurice Ravel / 1875-1937)
French composer, pianist, and conductor. Ravel found his own way as a composer, developing a style all his own while and was the first serious composer to incorporate elements of jazz. Ravels works included pieces for the piano, chamber music, two piano concertos, ballet music, two operas, and eight song cycles. He also became famous for being one of the first arrangers in history that would take other composers piano works and arrange them for orchestra.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9PiL5icwic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbEtk1kdYx4
Strauss
(Johann Strauss II / 1825-1899)
Austrian violinist and composer of light music, particular dance music, ballet music, marches, and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes and was known as “The Waltz King.”
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDaJ7rFg66A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef4J-9G1JR8
Modern Musical Style Period (1900-Present)
The texture of the music is often homophonic, but with renewed interest in polyphonic textures. The forms of this music is varied and highly individualized, while the harmonic language is atonal with the introduction of serialism. Representative composers of this period: Schoenberg, Stravinsky, and Bartok.
Schoenberg
(Arnold Schoenberg / 1874-1951)
Austrian-American pianist, orchestrator, composer, music theorist, and music teacher. Schoenberg developed the twelve-tone technique; a compositional method of manipulating am ordered series of all twelve notes in the chromatic scale. This resulted his in compositions being atonal.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h5Xc-rUef4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh44fnjc_bc
Stranvinsky
(Igor Stravinsky 1882-1971)
Russian-born pianist, songwriter, composer, and conductor who became an American citizen. He is noted for composing symphonies, ballet music, and operas. He is widely considered as one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century and a pivotal-figures in modernist music.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd1xYKGnOEw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEx9NxFJ09Y
Bartok
(Bela Viktor Bartok / 1881-1945)
Hungarian pianist, composer, music educator, and ethnomusicologist. Noted for the Hungarian flavor in his major musical works, which include orchestra works, string quartets, piano solos, stage works, a cantata, and numerous settings of folk songs for voice and piano. In addition, he composer a piano curriculum for the instruction of beginning pianist.
Musical Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z50Ooqv1GFg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGJcsTtJ188