1. Musical Time Period Characteristics
Medieval
Renaissance
Baroque
Classical
Romantic
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.
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 (non-religious music) sung by traveling musicians (troubadours) who went from town to town. Drums, harps, bagpipes and recorders were used by these musicians.
Renaissance means “rebirth.”
Science and the arts were becoming more important in society.
America was discovered, Shakespeare was writing his famous plays and Michelangelo painted the Sistene chapel.
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.
means highly decorated. It is full of confidence
and is very complicated.
Musicians often would make up music as they played called “improvising.”
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 very structured and emotions were controlled. It was tuneful and simple. The size of the orchestra was small but began to grow.
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.
Passion and imagination was extremely important in this time not reason or logic.
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.”
Composers are very experimental in this time period. Music has often broke free of the traditions of the past.
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 examples-rock & roll, country, r & b,
rap etc.)