HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC.

Western music originates from European music and is known for its specific structures, forms, modes of music
theory, and instruments. Popular genres include opera, symphony, concerto, and chamber quartet. Diverse
instruments such as the piano, orchestra instruments, and guitar contribute to the unique sound of Western
music. Its influence has had a great impact on the culture and ethics of the rest of the world.
This music history timeline reflects a concise history of Western music, through our current place in the Modern
Era. The six primary musical periods that span the history of Western music are listed below. These musical
periods are

500-1400 - Medieval Era

1400-1600 - Renaissance Era
1600-1750 - Baroque Era
1750-1820 - Classical Era
1820-1900 - Romantic Era
1900-1930 - Modern Era

Medieval Era (500-1400 AD)

The Medieval Era lasted from 500 to 1400 CE. It followed the fall of Rome, which led to the Dark Ages, lasting
500 years until 1000. During this time, people lived in small villages and wars were common. The Catholic
Church was the main supporter of music, which was mostly composed in Latin. (Georgian chant) Secular music
became popular again in the 12th century.
In the 1100s, French composers developed musical polyphony with three or four vocal lines singing different
notes simultaneously. This added harmonies and texture to previously monophonic compositions. Secular folk
music also became popular and was sung in the language of the people, as opposed to Latin used for church
music. Troubadours and trouvères sang lyrical poetry about love, nature, and philosophy in the vernacular.
COMPOSERS
1. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
2. Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
3. Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361)
4. Peter Abelard (1079-1142)

Renaissance Era (1400-1600 AD)

The Renaissance Era (1400-1600) was a period of revitalization in the arts and humanities. It brought about
advancements in a-cappella vocal music, harmonies, polyphony, and music theory. The invention of the printing
press in 1436 allowed for large-scale printing and distribution of musical scores.
Renaissance means rebirth.
In the Renaissance Era, new instruments like trumpets and small guitars were introduced. Consorts, and
instrumental ensembles, became popular. Major and minor keys were established, giving new modes of
harmonic structure. Secular music like chanson and madrigals became famous, and musicians became more
skilled due to the easy availability of musical scores.
COMPOSERS
1. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
2. William Byrd (1543-1623)
3. Andrea Gabrieli (1533-1585)
4. Guillaume Dufay (1400-1474)
Baroque Era (1600-1750 AD)
The Baroque Era (1600-1750) was known for highly decorated art and music. Opera was divided into two
genres, opera seria and opera buffa. Instrumental music evolved with forms like sonata and concerto. Orchestral
instruments were refined and showcased by virtuosi. Famous Baroque works include The Messiah by Handel.
Orchestral instruments such as the bassoon, viola, cello, and percussion instruments such as the timpani were
further refined, and the ornate artistry filled with elaborations and embellishments were showcased by virtuosi,
highly skilled musicians who performed increasingly intricate improvised melodic lines.
COMPOSER
1. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
2. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
3. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
4. Henry Purcell (1658-1695)
5. Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
6. Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Classical Era (1750-1820 AD)

The Classical era (1750-1820) is sometimes called the Viennese period because of the prominent role Vienna
played during that time. It was a time of reason and enlightenment. It was marked by a move away from custom
and privilege and was characterized by a greater emphasis on dynamics, mood, and rhythm in music. The
middle class gained access to music, and public concerts became popular. The piano was invented by
Bartolomeo Cristofori an Italian music technologist, leading to greater dynamic range and flexibility in rhythm.
crescendos and decrescendos came into widespread use. There is a much greater variety and contrast in mood,
with lots of fluctuation. This is contrasted with Baroque pieces, which convey a single mood according to the
"Doctrine of Affection"
COMPOSERS
1. Christoph Willibald Gluck, (1714-1787)
2. Franz Joseph Haydn, (1732-1809)
3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, (1756-1791)
4. Ludwig van Beethoven, (1770-1828)
5. Franz Schubert, (1728-1797)

Romantic Era (1820-1900 AD)

The Romantic era (1820-1900) emphasized self-expression and individuality in music. Composers used
descriptive titles and programmatic styles to depict stories and ideas. Nationalism became important, with
composers incorporating folk songs and dances from their homelands. The orchestra expanded, with new tone
colours and technological improvements to instruments. All instruments were required to play with more
virtuosity.
During the Romantic Era, music became more expressive and emotional. Composers used a wider range of
dynamics, pitch and tempo, as well as techniques like rubato to convey individual emotions and meanings. They
wrote both large-scale pieces and musical miniatures and invented new forms like Art Songs, which combined
poetry and music.
COMPOSERS
1. Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
2. Robert Schumann (1810- 1856)
3. Johannes Brahms. (1833-1897)
4. Frederick Chopin (1810- 1849)
5. Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
6. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1811-1886)
Modern Era (1900-1930 AD)
In the early twentieth century, classical composers broke the rules of traditional music. They challenged tonality
and structure, embraced mixed meter and stretched instruments to their limits. This era saw the rise of
impressionism and the birth of serial music, which disposed of tonality altogether.
COMPOSERS
1. Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
2. Vaughan William (1872-1958)
3. Johann Julius Sibelius (1865-1957)
4. Claude Achille Debussy (1862-1918)
5. Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)