Historical periods

Renaissance 1450 - 1600

  • Renaissance refers to a re-birth of the human spirit, and the age saw a new interest in secular (non religious) music, including madrigals, dance tunes, songs for voice with lute and keyboard music

  • Church music remained important, with the Protestant reformation giving rise to new genres such as the German chorale (hymn) and English anthems.

  • Composers include Josquin, Palestrina, Byrd and Victoria

Baroque 1600 - 1750

  • This period begins with the invention of opera and before its end saw the foundation of the modern orchestra

  • Instrumental music became increasingly important, with new genres such as the sonata, suite and concerto

  • The sound of the harpsichord and exuberant contrapuntal textures are strong characteristics of the Baroque era

  • Composers include Monteverdi, Purcell, Vivaldi, Handel and Bach

Classical 1750 - 1825

  • The classical style emphasised clarity of line, elegance and melody-dominated homophony

  • The piano displaced the harpsichord as the keyboard instrument of choice while clarinets and horns helped swell the size of the orchestra

  • Instrumental music included symphonies, concertos, string quartets and piano sonatas and opera continued to grow in importance

  • Composers include Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

Romantic 1825 - 1900

  • The romantic style often emphasised emotional response in contrast to the balance and moderation of the Classical period

  • The orchestra reached its maximum size and virtuoso soloists dazzled audiences with their skills.

  • New genres emerged, such as Lieder and the descriptive tone poem.

  • Composers include Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Wagner, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Elgar and Puccini

Modern 1900 - 1975

  • The early 20th century saw many diverse trends in music. Composers increasingly used dissonance with some rejecting tonality entirely. Folk music, Jazz and World music became strong influences.

  • Experimental approaches to composition included music formed through chance and the use if electronically generated sounds.

  • Traditionalists continued to develop traditional forms, while music for film becomes a major force

  • Composers include Debussy, Schoenburg, Bartok, Gershwin, Britten, Stockhausen.

Postmodernism

  • Postmodernism refers to a variety of styles.

  • The best known new development is minimalism, although composers continue to experiment in different directions.

  • Composers have continued to write opera and music theatre pieces.

  • Composers include Steve Reich, Philip Glass.