Music Timelines

Music timelines and resources to the origin, development and continous changes
and trends in music.
Medieval Music Timeline
By Espie Estrella, About.com Guide
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medieval period

middle ages

music history

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Medieval History

During the Middle Ages or Medieval period, musical notation began as well as the
birth of polyphony. There was a remarkable continuity in musical styles categorized
into monophonic and polyphonic styles. Here is a brief timeline of music events
during this period.
590 - 604 - Development of the Gregorian Chant. It is also known as plain chant or
plainsong and named after Pope St. Gregory the Great. The said Pope was believed
to have brought it to the West.

695 - The development of organum, an early form of counterpoint.

1030 - It was around this time when a new method to teach singing was invented
by a monk and choirmaster named Guido de Arezzo.
1098 - 1179 - Hildegard von Bingen
1150 - 1250 - The Notre Dame school of polyphony was the center of activity.
Rhythmic notation first appeared in this period. Also known as the ars antiqua; it is
during this time when the motet initially developed.
11th - 12th century - Time of liturgical drama, musical tradition of Europe. Also,
the music of the troubadour and trouvre, a vernacular tradition of monophonic
secular song possibly accompanied by instruments and singers. Guillaume
d'Aquitaine was one of the well known troubadours. Themes were mostly of chivalry
and courtly love.
12th - 14th century
(12th - 13th) - The age of the Goliards, a group of clergy who wrote satirical
Latin poetry to mock the church. Some known goliards were Peter of Blois and
Walter of Chtillon.
{13th) - The spread of Geisslerlieder, these are songs of flagellants. Flagellants
practiced self-mortification by whipping themselves with various instruments.
Geisslerlieder music was simple and closely related to folk songs.
(12th - 14th) - Birth of Minnesang, lyric and song writing in Germany much like
the troubadour tradition of France. Minnesingers mainly sang of courtly love and
some known minnesingers were Henric van Veldeke, Wolfram von Eschenbach and
Hartmann von Aue.
(14th) -The period of ars nova, coined by Philippe de Vitry. During this period,
secular music acquired polyphonic sophistication. Most notable practitioner of this
style was Guillaume de Machaut.
(1375 - 1475) - Known composers were Leonel Power, John Dunstable, Gilles
Binchois and Guillaume Dufay.
During the middle ages, there were several composers and musicians who
contributed to the spread and evolvement of music. Here are some of them:
1. Gilles Binchois
Composer who was also a soldier; believed to have been employed by the Earl of
Suffolk during the English occupation of France.
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2. Guido de Arezzo
During the Medieval period, two inventions were made that would greatly help
choirs to sing in harmony and to sight-sing. These inventions were created by a
monk and choirmaster named Guido de Arezzo.
3. Moniot d'Arras
Composer who also served in the Abbey of Northern France as a monk.
4. Guillaume de Machaut
Composer who was also the secretary of John of Luxemburg, King of Bohemia.
5. John Dunstable
One of the leading English composers of his time. His works influenced other
composers including Guillaume Dufay and Gilles Binchois. Aside from being a
composer, he was also an astronomer and mathematician.
6. Perotinus Magister
It is quite difficult to find information about composers who lived during the
Medieval Period, but one name stands out when we think of composers of this time.
Learn a little bit more about Perotin, believed to be the one who introduced four-part
polyphony.
7. Leonel Power
Composer who was one of the major figures in English music.
8. Hildegard von Bingen
Her name remains prominent on the list of Medieval composers. Hildegard von
Bingen wrote what is considered the earliest known musical drama in history
entitled "The Ritual of the Virtues."