Medieval (500-1400):
Characteristics: Music was primarily vocal, with a strong focus on religious themes. Gregorian chant was prominent. Manuscripts like the Codex Calixtinus documented medieval music.
Contributions: Development of musical notation, the rise of polyphony (multiple independent melodies), and the establishment of musical modes.
Important Figures: Hildegard of Bingen (composer and mystic), Guillaume de Machaut (comprehensive composer and poet).
Renaissance (1400-1600):
Characteristics: A period of great innovation and flourishing of the arts. Music saw increased use of instruments, greater harmony, and secular themes.
Contributions: The development of the printing press aided in the dissemination of music. Composers explored new forms like the madrigal.
Important Figures: Josquin des Prez (influential composer), Palestrina (known for sacred music), Thomas Morley (contributed to the madrigal).
Baroque (1600-1750):
Characteristics: Elaborate ornamentation, use of basso continuo, and emotional expression. The birth of opera and instrumental forms like the concerto.
Contributions: The emergence of well-defined tonal systems and the widespread use of the major-minor key system.
Important Figures: Johann Sebastian Bach (prolific composer), George Frideric Handel (famous for oratorios), Antonio Vivaldi (known for violin concertos).
Classical (1750-1820):
Characteristics: Emphasis on balance, clarity, and form. The sonata-allegro form became central. The classical symphony and string quartet evolved.
Contributions: Establishment of the symphony and sonata as major musical forms. Composers sought to balance emotion with structure.
Important Figures: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (prolific composer), Ludwig van Beethoven (bridged classical and romantic periods), Joseph Haydn (known as the "Father of the Symphony").
Romantic (c. 1820-1900):
Characteristics: Emotion and individual expression took center stage. Expanded orchestras and lush harmonies.
Contributions: Rise of the virtuoso performer, the development of the art song (lieder), and program music (music that tells a story).
Important Figures: Ludwig van Beethoven (transitioned from classical to romantic), Franz Schubert (known for lieder), Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (famous for ballets).
20th and 21st Centuries:
Characteristics: A period of immense diversity and experimentation, including the use of electronic instruments and avant-garde approaches.
Contributions: Pioneering genres like jazz, blues, rock, and electronic music. Composers explored atonality and minimalism.
Important Figures: Igor Stravinsky (known for "The Rite of Spring"), Duke Ellington (jazz innovator), The Beatles (rock pioneers), John Williams (renowned film composer).