The History of European Art Music A Timeline

The Beginnings of Recorded Music 450-1450 AD All recorded, (written-down) music was liturgical; Music was learned and taught through Oral/Aural transmission; Music was written down manually

Music in The Middle Ages 450 - 1450 Music that was learned and taught was by and for the ancient RC Church; That music was purely vocal until around 1100 AD; The vocal music made was in the form of CHANTS

Music of the Renaissance 1450 – 1600 Music Education spreads to the Middle Class and is not just learned and taught in the Churches, (and monasteries); New technological developments allowed for the music that was written down to be sent all over Europe; Instrumental music becomes more commonplace and widespread.

Music of the Baroque Period 1600 – 1750 Instrumental and vocal music forms expand; The Protestant Reformation took place; Opera was “invented”; The Piano was invented, (around 1700) The modern violin and associated string instruments had been developed.

Music of The Classical Period 1750 - 1820 Musical form was expanded and more clearly defined; Composed music needed to appeal to people from the Nobility to the Middle Class; Many composers were hired by the Aristocracy The Clarinet was used for the first time in a symphony, (Mozart)

Music of The Romantic Period 1820 -1900 Music expressed emotion, imagination, and individualism; Composers were free from working for the Aristocracy; Composers used Folk music themes, legends that clearly defined their specific country of origin, (Nationalism); Composers also wrote music that dealt with far-away lands & exotic natures Symphony orchestras grew extremely large, and musical form was expanded into very lengthy compositions

Music of the 20th Century 1900 – 2000 Traditional styles and rules of harmony completely abandoned Sound exploration of non-traditional sources, (including electronic sources)were used in serious compositions; Jazz was born; The advent of Rock & Roll and related music was born