Music History and
Composer Study
Spring 2015
Lake Nona MS
Ms. Hobbs
Introduction
 Music has been a part of culture for thousands of years.
It has evolved over time to have a variety of sounds and
uses.
 People who study music have divided history
into SIX general time periods of music.
 Each time period has certain characteristics and
composers that help define their era.
The six time periods are (in chronological order):
Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and
20th Century (Modern)
Medieval
(500-1400)
• Most medieval music
was vocal.
• Any instrumental music
was usually folk-like and
social
• The church was an
important place for
musicians
Medieval (5001400)
Gregorian Chant
Originally created and
sung in monasteries by
monks.
Chants were religious,
often psalms or
scripture.
Named after Pope
Gregory the Great.
Renaissance (1400-1600)
Rebirth and
Re-discovery
• Art and music become
more important in
society
• Renaissance fairs are
held today, and are a
spectacle of art, music,
and theatre.
• Time of Christopher
Columbus, Leonardo da
Vinci, and Shakespeare
Giovanni da Palestrina (15251594)
 Italian composer of sacred
music
 He greatly influenced the
music of the Catholic
Church. (He wrote over 100
masses!)
 One of the first well-known
composers of polyphonic
music (music with
harmonies)
Missa Papae Marcelli
Pope Marcellus Mass
 Pope Marcellus Mass by Pro Cantione Antiqua
 Composed in honor of Pope Marcellus II
 Written for six a capella voices – SATTBB (Soprano and
Alto parts were not sung by women!)
 Like all masses, consists of multiple movements (Kyrie,
Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
Baroque (1600-1750)
Baroque
Characteristics
• The Baroque period was a
time of extravagance in all
forms. Art, music, and
architecture reflect a new
sense of drama and excess.
• Instrumental music
becomes more important.
• Music in general continues
to be more expressive, less
tied to religion.
Johann Sebastian
Bach
(1685-1750)
• Born in Germany to a
musical family
• Played many instruments,
but was considered a
virtuoso on the organ
• Church musician
throughout his life.
Composed an enormous
amount of music for the
church.
• Had 20 children!
Toccata and Fugue in D
Minor
 Written by Bach for his most beloved instrument
 A toccata is a composition written for a keyboard
instrument composed in a ‘free style’ (no set structure).
 A fugue is a very structured piece that repeats one
particular theme/melody many times throughout,
harmonized with different melodies.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9rZjlsyYY
George F. Handel
(1685-1759)
 Originally studied law
because his father did not
approve of his son
becoming a full-time
musician.
 Lived in Germany, Italy,
and England at different
times in his life and
composed in German,
Italian, and English
Hallelujah Chorus from
Messiah
 Part of an oratorio (a musical work written for chorus,
vocal soloists, and orchestra). Often with a religious text.
 Most often performed during the Christmas season.
 King George II stood upon hearing its magnificence;
many audiences still stand today.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
 Italian composer, also ordained as a priest.
Because of this and his fiery red hair, he was
nicknamed ‘The Red Priest’
 Spring from The Four Seasons
 Violin Concerto
 A concerto is a musical work for solo
instrument, often accompanied by an orchestra
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjpLxlSMJ
Po
Classical
(1730-1820)
The Classical
Time Period
• Music becomes more
formalized, structured,
and ‘classical’ in the sense
of the word as we use it
today
• The orchestra as we know
it today begins to form in
terms of instrumentation
and size
• The American Revolution
takes place during this
period
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
 Child musical prodigy
from Austria.
 Wrote his first
composition at the age of
5, and his first symphony
at the age of 8!
 A symphony is a
large-scale
composition usually
with 3-4 movements.
Almost always
performed by an
orchestra.
Eine kleine nachtmusik
 ‘A Little Night Music’ or ‘A Little Serenade’
 Written for string chamber ensemble of full orchestra
 Four movements:
 I. Allegro
 II. Romanze: Andante
 III. Menuetto: Allegretto
 IV. Rondo: Allegro
Ludwig Van
Beethoven
(1770-1827)
• German composer
• Began losing his hearing at the
age of 20, and eventually
became completely deaf.
• Wrote 9 symphonies
• His music is thought to be a
sort of transition from the
Classical period to the
Romantic period
Symphony no. 5
 Four movement symphony written for orchestra
 Four movements:
 I. Allegro con brio
 II. Andante con moto
 III. Scherzo: Allegro
 IV. Allegro
 One of the best known symphonies of all time
 First four notes are very memorable and reappear throughout
the piece (BABABABAAAA)
Bonus! Symphony no. 9
 Beethoven’s last completed symphony
 “Ode to Joy”
 Performed by orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists.
Symphony no. 9 is the first major example of a composer
using voices in a symphony
 Composed when Beethoven was completely deaf