Music History

Medieval

Music up to around 1500. Western music is mainly known by songs. One of the first types of music to be written down were Gregorian chants. Other music of the time was from the troubadours and trouveres - the travelling minstrels.

Examples:

  • There are lots of CD's of gregorian chants
  • Medieval songs are harder to find, but one such is A Medieval Banquet - hosted by St George's Canzona published by ASV Quicksilva No: CD QS 6131
  • If you just want a flavour of medieval song you could try CD's by The Mediaeval Baebes. Most of what they sing is not actual music from the time, but it's quite good for all that.

Renaissance

The Renaissance period lasts from about 1500 to 1650. Music became less dissonant and strict rules of harmony were applied. The music is mainly in counterpoint - that is there are many individual vocal lines.

Examples:

  • Dufay and Josquin Des Prez from Europe
  • John Dowland, and William Byrd from England

Baroque

The Baroque period lasts from about 1650 to 1750. The most famous composer from this period is J S Bach. He, perhaps more than any other composers, has been a great inspiration and constant pinnacle in composing to look up to.

Examples:

  • Anything by J S Bach
  • Vivaldi - Four Seasons
  • Corelli  - Concerto Grosso
  • Handel - The Messiah

Classical

The Classical period lasts from about 1750 to 1825. There are really only three major composers of the Classical period: Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. There are other composers of the time, but are hardly known now.

Examples:

  • Symphonies by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven
  • Piano sonatas of Beethoven & Mozart
  • String quartets or quintets of Haydn & Mozart
  • Opera by Mozart - e.g. The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Cosi Fan Tutti, etc.

Romantic

The Romantic period lasts from about 1825 to 1900. Styles became far more diverse during this time. For example there were the nationalists, such as Liszt, Chopin and the Russian composers who took folk tunes from their native lands and incorporated them into their music. There were the Impressionists such as Debussy and Ravel who tried to capture a moment in music in the same way the Impressionist artists captured a moment in paint. And there were the heavy romantics of Wagner and Richard Strauss. Music had become a means to an end for them.

Examples:

  • Wagner - Die Meistersinger, Parsifal, or even The Ring if you want something really heavy going!
  • Liszt - Piano sonata in B minor
  • Chopin - piano music including Mazurkas, Preludes, Etudes, etc.
  • Debussy - Suite Bergamasque, which includes the tune Clair de lune
  • Tchaikovsky - Symphonies, ballets (Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet, Nutcracker)

Modern

Obviously this is from about 1900 to the present day. There are so many styles to be found in this section. The best thing to do is to try and listen to lots of different composers. You might be surprised by what you find. Some of my favourites appear in the list below, alongwith some stranger pieces.

Examples:

  • Steve Reich - Piano Phase; Six Pianos; Music for Mallet Instruments Voices and Organ 
  • Tavener - The Protecting Veil; The Lamb; The Lord's Prayer
  • Prokofiev - Symphony No. 1 "Classical"
  • Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring; Pulcinella
  • Holst - The Planets
  • Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Greensleeves; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
  • Arvo Part - Fratres; Summa
  • Henryk Gorecki - Totus Tuus; Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs)
  • Schoenberg - Pierrot Lunaire
  • Janacek - The Cunning Little Vixen
  • Britten - Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
  • Gershwin - Porgy & Bess; Rhapsody in Blue

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