A Brief Overview of Music History

Musical Eras The development of music, like art and literature, is usually broken down into spans of time that share similar qualities. In music, these are the… – Medieval era – Renaissance era – Baroque era – Classical* era – Romantic era – 20 th Century, etc

Medieval Era Spans from around the 3 rd century to the 15 th century. Used simple instruments – stringed instruments, simple flutes, etc Emphasis on sacred music Musical lines were often flowing and very horizontal in style.

Renaissance Era Growing desire to formalize the styles being written, and so order and form was valued. Most music was still written for the church, though secular works and styles were more common. Multiple voice compositions arose more commonly in sacred compositions within the church.

Baroque Era Many of the forms established in the Renaissance were varied and expanded, with ornate embellishment and improvisation becoming much more prevalent. The complexity of the music being written increased significantly. J.S. Bach was the defining composer both secular and sacred music - chorales and fugues. His work deeply influenced many composers that came after him, even today.

Classical Era In reaction to the decadence of the Baroque era, Classical era composers favoured efficiency and form. Developments in instrument manufacturing allowed for greater virtuosity for the performers, which the composers took advantage of in their writing. Large ensembles typically numbered from players.

Classical Era cont… During this era, established guidelines for the large-scale works, including the sonata, concertos and symphonies, were formed. Sonata-Allegro form, in particular, is one of the most influential developments of that era. Masters of these forms in that era include Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and, near the end of the era, Ludwig Van Beethoven.