Basic Symbols

Common signs and symbols used in music with explanations and illustrations. Clefs, Notes and the Staff Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures and More Beats and Meter Dynamic Signs and Articulation Marks Ties and Triplets Repeat Signs Rests Double Accidentals Natural Notes and the Natural Sign Circle of Fifths Key Signatures Ads

Treble Clef

Public Domain Image It is the commonly used clef in music. It is the sign placed on the staff in a musical score to indicate placement of the G above middle C. On the piano treble clef is played by the right hand.

Bass Clef

Public Domain Image The sign placed on the music staff to indicate placement of the F below middle C. On the piano bass clef is played by the left hand.

Grand Staff

Grand staff Public Domain Image The staff is a series of five horizontal lines and four spaces. The clef is placed at the beginning of the staff to indicate placement of the notes on the lines and spaces. The treble and bass clefs are the two most common clefs. The combination of a staff line with a treble and bass clef forms a grand staff. The grand staff is used primarily in piano scoring and other keyboard instruments.

Whole Note

Public Domian Image A note that lasts for 4 beat

Half Note

Public Domain Image It is a note that has 2 beats. 2 half notes is equal to one whole note.

Quarter Note

Public Domain Image It is a note that has 1 beat. 4 quarter notes is equal to one whole note.

Eighth Note

Public Domain Image It is a note that has 1/8 the beat of a whole note. More simply put, it gets 1/2 beat. 2 eighth notes is equal to a quarter note.

Sixteenth Note

Public Domain Image A note equivalent to 1/16 of the time duration of a whole note. More simply put, it is a note that gets 1/4 beat. 2 sixteenth notes is equal to one eighth note.

Thirty-second Note

Public Domain Image It is a note that lasts 1/32 the duration of a whole note. Two 32nd notes is equal to one 16th note.

Sixty-fourth Note

Public Domian Image A note that is 1/64 the time duration of a whole note. Two 64th notes is equal to one 32nd note.

Music Theory 101 - Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures and More

notes notation music theory performance tips 1 of 10 Previous Next Dotted Notes

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Dotted Half Note

Rests

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Types of Rests A sign which signifies a measured silence. A whole rest is silence equivalent to the value of a whole note (4), a half rest is silence equivalent to the value of a half note (2). To illustrate more clearly:

whole rest = 4 half rest = 2 quarter rest = 1 eighth rest = 1/2 sixteenth rest = 1/4

Notes on the Treble Clef (Spaces)

Notes on the treble clef Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Notes that are on the spaces of a treble clef. We will go from the lowest space to the highest; the notes are F - A - C - E. These notes are actually easy to remember, just think of your FACE! Remember, on the piano when we say treble clef, it's played by the right hand. Memorize these notes and their positions on the spaces. Take note of the notes on the spaces from the illustration above.

Notes on the Treble Clef (Lines)

Notes on the treble clef Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons The five horizontal lines that make up a music staff are called leger lines. The notes on the leger lines are as follows from lowest to highest: E - G - B - D - F. You can make it easier to remember by creating mnemonics like; Every Good Boy Does Fine or Every Good Boy Deseves Football. Memorize these notes and their positions on the lines. Take note of the notes on the lines from the illustration above.

Notes on the Bass Clef (Spaces) These are the notes on the spaces of a bass clef, they are as follows from the lowest space to the highest: A - C - E - G. You can make it easier to remember by creating mnemonics like; All Cows Eat Grass. Remember, on the piano the bass clef is played by the left hand. Here's anillustration.

Notes on the Bass Clef (Lines) These are the notes on the leger lines of the bass clef. They are as follows from lowest line to the highest: G - B - D - F - A. You can make it easier to remember by creating mnemonics like; Great Big Dogs Frighten Amy. Here's an illustration

Middle C

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Middle C It is usually the first thing piano instructors teach students. The C sits on the leger line between the treble and bass clef staffs.

Bar Lines and Measures

Photo Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons Bar Line Bar lines are the vertical lines you see on a music staff which divides the staff into measures. Inside a measure there are notes and rests corresponding to the number of beats determined by a time signature.

Time Signature

Photo Courtesy of Mst from Wikimedia Commons 3/4 Time Signature It indicates how many notes and what kind of notes in a measure. The time signatures commonly used are 4/4 (common time) and 3/4. There is also 5/2, 6/8 etc. The number on top is the number of notes per measure while the number on the bottom indicates what kind of note. Here's a guide:

bottom # is 1 = whole note bottom # is 2 = half note bottom # is 4 = quarter note bottom # is 6 = 8th note bottom # is 16 = 16th note

Sharps and Flats

Photo Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons F Sharp Sharp - To make a note higher in pitch, the symbol placed before a note to raise it one half step. Flat - A symbol placed in front of a note in a piece of music to lower it by one half step

Beats and Meter Music Theory 4/4 Time Signature Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Beats are used as a way of counting time when playing a piece of music. Beats gives music its regular rhythmic pattern. Beats are grouped together in a measure, the notes and rests corresponds to a certain number of beats. The grouping of strong and weak beats is called meter. You can find the meter signature, also calledtime signature, at the beginning of every music piece, it is the 2 numbers written after the clef. The number on top tells you the number of beats in a measure; the number at the bottom tells you what note gets the beat. There are different kinds of meter signatures, the most commonly used are: 4/4 Meter - Also known as common time, this means there are 4 beats in a measure. For example 4 quarter notes (= 4 beats) in a measure will have the count - 1 2 3 4. Another example is when there is a half note (= 2 beats), 2 eighth notes (= 1 beat) and 1 quarter note (=1 beat) in a measure. When you add the beats of all the notes you come up with 4, you thus count it as 1 2 3 4. In 4/4 meter the accent is on the first beat. Listen to a music samplewith a 4/4 meter. 3/4 Meter - Used mostly in classical and waltz music, this means there are three beats in a measure. For example 3 quarter notes (= 3 beats) will have the count 1 2 3. Another example is a dotted half note which is also equivalent to three beats. In 3/4 meter the accent is on the first beat. Listen to a music sample with a 3/4 meter. 6/8 Meter - Mostly used in classical music, this means there are 6 beats in a measure. In this type of meter the eighth notes are commonly used. For example 6 eighth notes in a measure will have the count - 1 2 3 4 5 6. Here the accent is on the first and fourth beats. Listen to amusic sample with a 6/8 meter.

Expression Marks - Dynamic Signs and Articulation Marks 1 of 10 pianissimo

Pianissimo Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons "very soft"

piano

Piano Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons "soft"

mezzo piano

Mezzo piano Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons "moderately soft"

mezzo forte

Mezzo forte Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons "moderately loud" forte

Forte

Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons"loud" fortissimo

Fortissimo Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons "very loud"

crescendo

Crescendo Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons To play a piece with increasing volume.

decrescendo

Decrescendo Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons Also called diminuendo, to play a piece in decreasing intensity.

glissando

Glissando Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons A rapid succession of notes by sliding the fingers quickly over the keys or strings. It is often played on the piano or harp.

slur

Slur Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons To play a piece of music legato or smoothly. More info on slurs.

What are Ties and Triplets?

Ties Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons Question: What are Ties and Triplets? Answer: Tie - A tie is a curved line that connects one note to the next note that has the same pitch. The second note is not played but its value is added to the first note. For example two quarter notes that are tied together will be held for 2 beats. Ties are also used when a note is too long that it travels to the next measure. Also, ties are used when the value of a note cannot be represented by only one note. This technique of using ties is calledligatura. Triplets - Triplets is a way of grouping notes together wherein the value of the original note is divided by three. For example when you divide a quarter note by three you get three eighth notes that are connected together. This is called eighth triplets. Triplets are indicated by a line above the notes with the number three. This means that the notes need to be equally spread across the beat so that they have the same duration. There are also quarter triplets, sixteenth triplets, etc.

Repeat Signs Music Notation

da capo Photo Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons A repeat sign is used to indicate a measure that is to be played again. The repeat sign is represented by two dots before a double bar. Repeat signs may be placed at the end of a music piece indicating that it should be played again from the beginning. It can also be placed in the middle of a music piece indicating that the measure/s before the repeat sign should be played again. There is also an inverted repeat sign that is used when only a few measures need to be repeated. Two dots after a double barsymbolizes an inverted repeat sign. Common repeat signs used in classical music are: da capo - Symbolized by the letters D.C. and placed under the final measure. This means to repeat from the top or the beginning of the music piece. dal segno - Also written as D.S., this means to repeat the measures starting from the segno sign. da capo al fine - Sometimes a music sheet will bear the word fine under a measure. Da capo al fine means to repeat everything from the beginning ending with the measure with the word fine underneath. Other repeat signs are used to signify that a measure or a number of measures needs to be repeated several times. These are called simile marks

Special Symbols in Music - Rests

Fermata Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Rests are used to indicate a pause in a piece of music. The most common used rests are whole rest, half rest, quarter rest and eighth rest. For more information about rests go here. There are also special rest symbols that are used to indicate pause or silence:

General Pause - Uses the sign G.P. to indicate pause or silence for all instruments or voices. Fermata - Indicates that a note should be sustained longer than its value. Often it is the performer who determines how long he/she should hold the note. The fermata is often placed at the end of a music piece.

What are Double Accidentals?

Double flat Image Courtesy of Denelson83 from Wikimedia Commons Question: What are Double Accidentals? Before we go to double accidentals, let's review what are sharps, flats and half steps. A half step is to move from one note to the next note either upwards or downwards. To move a half step upwards or one note upwards is to sharp a key. To move a half step downwards or one note downwards is to flat a key. Flats and sharps are also called accidentals. Answer: A double accidental means to raise or lower a note two half steps which is equivalent to a whole step. A double sharp raises the note 2 half steps. A double flat lowers a note 2 half steps.

What Are Natural Notes, Natural Signs and Accidentals?

Natural Sign Question: What Are Natural Notes, Natural Signs and Accidentals? Answer: In music there is such a thing called "musical alphabet," this means each note has a name based on the alphabet. There are seven letters used in a musical alphabet namely: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C. These seven letters are called the natural tones, on apiano/keyboard these are the names of the white keys. The white key to the left of two black keys is always a C, the next key to the right is always a D, next to that is E and so on. Sharps and flats are also called accidentals. The symbol for a flat is like a lower case b, while the symbol for a sharp is like a pound sign (#). To flat a note means to lower it by one half step; to sharp a note means to raise it one half step. Accidentals are placed in front of the note they alter. The effect of accidentals last for the entire measure if it is used at the beginning of a measure. Its effect is cancelled by a bar line. A natural sign is used to cancel out any key that is sharped or flatted. As an example, if a note is in C sharp a natural sign will bring the note back to its natural tone which is C. In the same way, if a note is in F flat, a natural sign will bring back that note to its natural tone which is F.

What Is the Circle of Fifths?

Circle of Fifths Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Question: What Is the Circle of Fifths? The Circle of Fifths is a diagram which is an essential tool for musicians. It is named such because it uses a circle to illustrate the relationship of different keys that are a fifth apart. Answer: It is labeled with the letter names of the notes with C at the top center then going clockwise are the notes G - D - A - E - B/Cb - F#/Gb - Db/C# - Ab Eb - Bb - F then back to C again. The notes on the circle are all a fifth apart, C to G are a fifth apart, G to D is also a fifth apart and so forth. The basic illustration for the Circle of Fifths. Other Uses of the Circle of Fifths Key Signatures - You can also tell how many sharps and flats are there in a given key by looking at the Circle of Fifths.

Transposition - The Circle of Fifths can also be used when transposing from a major key to a minor key or vice versa. To do this a smaller image of the Circle of Fifth is placed inside a larger image of the circle. Then the C of the smaller circle is aligned to the Eb of the larger circle. So now if a piece of music is in Ab you can see that when you transpose that it will be on the key of F. The upper case letters represent major keys, the lower case letters represent minor keys. Chords - Another use for the Circle of Fifths is to determine chord patterns. The symbol used for this are I (major), ii (minor), iii (minor), IV (major), V (major), vi (minor) and viio (diminished). On the Circle of Fifths, the numerals are arranged as follows starting from F then moving clockwise: IV, I, V, ii, vi, iii and viio. So for example a piece asks that you play a I-IV-V chord pattern, looking at the circle you can see that it corresponds to C - F - G. Now if you want to play it in another key, say for example on G, you then align the numeral I to G and you'll see that the I-IVV chord pattern now corresponds to G - C - D.

Key Signatures

Photo Courtesy of Mst Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Key signatures are the flats or sharps you see after the clef and before the time signature. The purpose of the key signature, aside from telling you what key to play in, is to avoid writing too many accidentals. For example, instead of writing Bb over and over again, the flat sign (b) is placed on the third line of the Treble Clef indicating that B's need to be flatted. The sharps or flats placed on the line or space in the key signature indicates that notes on that line or space needs to be sharped or flatted. It also indicates that all the other notes of the same letter, even if they are in other octaves, needs to be sharped or flatted. Sometimes composers change the key signature throughout a piece of music. Tip

Major Key - If the key signature has sharps, look at the position of the last sharp and raise it by a half-step to get the key. For example, if the last sharp is E, raise it a half step which is F, the key is F sharp major. When the key signature has flats, simply look at the second to the last flat and you get the key. So for example A flat is the second to the last flat sign in the key signature, this means the music is in A flat major. The exception to this rule is F major because it only has one flat and C major because it has no flats or sharps. Minor Key - Simply find the name of the key in major and lower it three half steps to get the minor key. For example E flat major lowered three half steps will be C minor. A minor key that has the same key signature as a major key is called a relative minor. For example E flat major and C minor both have 3 flats but C minor is three half steps lower than E flat major. Keep in mind that there are only seven flats: B-E-A-D-G-C-F, and it is always in the same order in a key signature. On the other hand, the order of sharps (F-CG-D-A-E-B) is the order of flats (B-E-A-D-G-C-F) backwards

For quick reference, look at this table of key signatures for both major and minor keys.

Key Signatures Key Signatures Major C none Db - 5 flats D - 2 sharps Eb - 3 flats E - 4 sharps F - 1 flat F# - 6 sharps Gb - 6 flats G - 1 sharp Ab - 4 flats A - 3 sharps Bb - 2 flats B - 5 sharps Minor A minor - none Bb - 5 flats B - 2 sharps C - 3 flats C# - 4 sharps D - 1 flat D# - 6 sharps Eb - 6 flats E - 1 sharp F - 4 flats F# - 3 sharps G - 2 flats G# - 5 sharps

Scales & Intervals Major Scales Scales refer to a series of notes that go in an ascending and descending manner. The major scale is the foundation from which all other scales are formed. A C major scale begins with a C and ends with a C. The same rule applies with the rest of the keys where a D Major Scale begins and ends with a D and so on. The notes on a major scale is numbered from 1 to 8, this signifies the intervals. Major Scale in Every C = C - D - E - F - G - A D = D - E - F# - G - A - B E = E - F# - G# - A - B - C# F = F - G - A - Bb - C - D G = G - A - B - C - D - E A = A - B - C# - D - E - F# B = B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# C# = C# - D# - E# (=F) - F# - G# - A# - B# Db = Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb Eb = Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C F# = F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# Gb = Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb (=B) - Db - Eb Ab = Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F Bb = Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb Key C D E F G A B C# Db -Eb F# Gb Ab

B C# D# E F# G# A# (=C) C - D (=F) - F G -

To simplify, you can memorize this formula to form a major scale = whole step whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - whole step - half step or w - w - h - w - w - w - h.

Minor Scales If there are major scales there are also minor scales. The notes on a major scale sound bright and cheerful while notes on the minor scale sound solemn and sad. There are three types of minor scales: Natural Minor Scale - When you play all the notes in a minor key signature, you are playing the minor scale. To guide you, here are the minor scales in every key: C = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C D = D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C - D E = E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E F = F - G - Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F G = G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G A = A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A B = B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B C# = C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A - B - C# Eb = Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb F# = F# - G# - A - B - C# - D - E - F# G# = G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# Bb = Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb To simplify, you can memorize this formula to form a minor scale = whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - half step - whole step - whole step orw - h - w - w h - w - w. Harmonic Minor Scale - To play a harmonic minor scale, you simply raise the seventh note of the scale by a half-step as you go up and down the scale. For example: Natural C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C Harmonic C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - B - C Melodic Minor Scale - When you raise the sixth and seventh notes of a scale by a half step as you go up the scale and then return to the natural minor as you go down the scale. For example: Melodic C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - A - B - C (as you go up the scale) Natural C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C (as you go down the scale)

Chromatic Scale The word "chromatic" comes from the Greek word chroma meaning "color." The chromatic scale consists of 12 notes each a half step apart. It is from the chromatic scale that every other scale or chord in most Western music is derived. On the piano/keyboard when you play all the black and white keys of an octave in an ascending or descending order you are playing a chromatic scale. We will take the C chromatic scale as an example: C Chromatic Scale as you go up: C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C C Chromatic Scale as you go down: C B Bb A Ab G Gb F E Eb D Db C In this example we start at C and end at C, that is an octave. As you go up the scale some of the notes are sharped. As you go down, some of the notes are flatted. Notice that the sharped and flatted keys are the same keys but given different names; these are called enharmonic notes. Enharmonics sound the same but have different names. For example C# and Db is the same key. In grammar and writing, enharmonics are like homonyms; words that sound alike but have different meanings (i.e. meet, meat)

Pentatonic Scales The word "pentatonic" comes from the Greek word pente meaning five and tonic meaning tone. Simply put, the pentatonic scale consists of five notes within one octave, that's why it is also sometimes referred to as a five-tone scale or five-note scale. It is believed that the pentatonic scale was used way back in ancient times. Composers like Claude Debussy have used pentatonic scales for added effect in his music. The anhemitonic form of pentatonic scale has no semitones (ex. cdfgac} this is the most commonly used form. The two basic forms of pentatonic scales are: Major Pentatonic - Consists of the 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 5th - 6th notes of a major scale. Minor Pentatonic - Consists of the same 5 notes of a major pentatonic scale but its tonic (first note of the scale} is 3 semitones below the tonic of the major pentatonic scale. For example, the C major pentatonic (C - D - E - G - A} has the same notes as the A minor pentatonic (A - C - D - E - G} but arranged differently. The first note or tonic of the A minor pentatonic scale (=A) is 3 semitones (half steps) lower than the first note of the C major pentatonic scale (=C). It uses the 1st - minor 3rd - 4th - 5th - minor 7th notes of a scale.

What is the Whole Tone Scale? Question: What is the Whole Tone Scale? Answer: Major and minor scales consists of 7 notes, while pentatonic scales are made of 5 notes. However, the whole tone scale has 6 notes that are all a whole step apart making its intervallic formula easy to remember - W-W-W-W-W-W. This type of scale is used in Romantic music as well as jazz music; for example, the music of Thelonius Monk. It is important to remember that there are only two whole tone scales; C (C- D - E - F# - G# - A#) and D flat (Db - Eb - F - G - A - B). If you start a scale on a different note, you are still playing the same notes as the C and Db whole tone scales but in different order. The sound of a whole tone scale is often decribed as "dreamlike."

What are modes? Question: What are modes? Answer: Modes are used in many types of music; from sacred music to jazz to rock. Composers use it to add "flavor" to their compositions in order to avoid predictability. It is formed by naming a different note as the root (1st) instead of the original root of the scale. Thus, in a way, modes can be defined as displaced major scales. Types of Modal Scales Ionian - Also known as the major scale; follows the pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H. Dorian - Constructed from the second note of a major scale; follows the pattern W-H-W-W-W-H-W. Phrygian - Constructed from the third note of a major scale; follows the pattern H-W-W-W-H-W-W. Lydian - Constructed from the fourth note of a major scale; follows the pattern WW-W-H-W-W-H. Mixolydian - Also known as "mixo," is constructed from the fifth note of a major scale and follows the pattern W-W-H-W-W-H-W. Aeolian - Also known as the natural minor scale, is constructed from the sixth note of a major scale and follows the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Locrian - Constructed from the seventh note of a major scale; follows the pattern H-W-W-H-W-W-W. Each mode has a very distinct sound; for example, the Phrygian mode sounds melancholy and reflects the music of Spain. The Lydian mode sounds happy and is often used in jazz and rock music. The Mixolydian mode evokes a bluesy sound and can often be heard in jazz, blues and rock music. The Locrian mode, on the other hand, has a very strange sound but is rarely used.

What are Intervals?

Intervals Question: What are Intervals? Answer: An interval is the difference between two pitches measured by half steps. It is also defined as the distance of one note to another note. In Western music, the smallest interval used is the half step. Learning about intervals makes it easier to playscales and chords. Intervals have two characteristics: the type or quality of an interval (ex. major, perfect, etc.) and the size or distance of an interval (ex. second, third, etc.). To determine an interval, you first look at the type of interval followed by the size (ex. Maj7, Perfect 4th, Maj6, etc.). Intervals can be major, minor, harmonic, melodic, perfect, augmented and diminished. Sizes or Distance of Intervals (Using the C Major Scale as example) When determining the interval between two notes, you need to count every line and space starting from the bottom note going to the top note. Remember to count the bottom note as #1.

Prime/First - c to c Second - c to d Third - c to e Fourth - c to f Fifth - c to g Sixth - c to a Seventh - c to b Octave - c to c

Types or Qualities of Intervals

Perfect Intervals have only one basic form. The first (or prime), fourth, fifth and eighth (or octave) are all perfect intervals. When you lower a perfect interval by a half step it becomes diminished. When you raise it a half step it becomes augmented. Non-perfect Intervals have two basic forms. The second, third, sixth and seventh are non-perfect intervals; it can either be a major or minor interval (ex. Maj7, minor6, etc.). When you lower a major interval by a half step, it becomes a minor. When you raise it a half step it becomes augmented. On the other hand when you lower a minor interval by a half step it becomes diminished. When you raise it a half step it becomes a major.

What Are Harmonic Intervals? Question: What Are Harmonic Intervals? Answer: Notes that are played together or simultaneously create harmony. The interval between these notes are called harmonic intervals. Just like melodic intervals, there are harmonic 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, etc. The difference is that in melodic intervals the notes are played one after another, while in harmonic intervals you play the notes at the same time. Notes on a chord that are played together have harmonic intervals. The most common type of chords are major and minor chords. The triad is a type of major or minor chord that has 3 notes played either at the same time or one after another. A major triad is played using the 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a major scale. A minor triad is played using the 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of aminor scale.

What are Melodic Intervals? Question: What are Melodic Intervals? Answer: The distance between notes is called an interval. When you play notes separately, one after another, you are playing a melody. The distance between these notes is called amelodic interval. Let's use the piano keys to illustrate the different types of melodic intervals: Melodic 2nds - Distance from a white key to the next white key, either up and down the keyboard. On the staff melodic 2nds go from line to space and vice versa. Melodic 3rds - When you skip a white key, that's a melodic 3rd. On the staff it goes from space to space or from line to line. Melodic 4ths - Skipping 2 white keys; on the staff melodic 4ths go from line to space or space to line. Melodic 5ths - Skipping 3 white keys; on the staff melodic 5ths go from space to space or from line to line. Melodic 6ths - Skipping 4 white keys; on the staff it goes from line to space or space to line. Melodic 7ths - Skipping 5 white keys; on the staff it goes from space to space or line to line. An octave is when you skip 6 white keys. For example from C to C, E to E or G to G. On the staff an octave goes from line to space or space to line.

What are Melodic Intervals? Question: What are Melodic Intervals? Answer: The distance between notes is called an interval. When you play notes separately, one after another, you are playing a melody. The distance between these notes is called amelodic interval. Let's use the piano keys to illustrate the different types of melodic intervals: Melodic 2nds - Distance from a white key to the next white key, either up and down the keyboard. On the staff melodic 2nds go from line to space and vice versa. Melodic 3rds - When you skip a white key, that's a melodic 3rd. On the staff it goes from space to space or from line to line. Melodic 4ths - Skipping 2 white keys; on the staff melodic 4ths go from line to space or space to line. Melodic 5ths - Skipping 3 white keys; on the staff melodic 5ths go from space to space or from line to line. Melodic 6ths - Skipping 4 white keys; on the staff it goes from line to space or space to line. Melodic 7ths - Skipping 5 white keys; on the staff it goes from space to space or line to line. An octave is when you skip 6 white keys. For example from C to C, E to E or G to G. On the staff an octave goes from line to space or space to line.

Table of Intervals Perfect, Major and Minor Intervals Remember, perfect intervals have only one basic form. The first (also called prime or unison), fourth, fifth and eighth (or octave) are all perfect intervals. On the other hand, non-perfect intervals have two basic forms. The second, third, sixth and seventh are non-perfect intervals; it can either be a major or minor interval. Major intervals comes from the major scale. Minor intervals are exactly a half-step lower than major intervals. Here's a handy table that will make it easier for you to determine intervals by counting the distance of one note to another note in half steps. Table of Intervals Perfect Intervals Type of Interval Unison Perfect 4th Perfect 5th Perfect Octave Major Intervals Type of Interval Major 2nd Major 3rd Major 6th Major 7th Minor Intervals Type of Interval Number of Half-steps Number of Half-steps 2 4 9 11 Number of Half-steps not applicable 5 7 12

Minor 2nd Minor 3rd Minor 6th Minor 7th

1 3 8 10

Triads & Chords How To Form Major Triads On A Keyboard

Note names of the piano Espie Estrella There are many different types of chords, the most common are major and minor chords. For this lesson we will learn about how to form "major triads." First, let's define what a major triad is; a triad are 3 notes either played together or simultaneously. A major triad is played using the 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a major scale. A major triad chord has a symbol of M or Maj. Here's how to form major triads: Difficulty: Average Time Required: Depends on your playing level Here's How: 1. Learn all the note names on a keyboard. The white key to the left of two black keys is always a C; now moving to the next white keys on the right we have D - E - F - G - A - B then back to C again. These note names just keep repeating. The names of the black keys (and some white keys as well) varies depending on whether it's a sharp or a flat. For example, the black key next to C may either be a C# or a Db. 2. Learn how to play the major scales. A scale is a series of notes that go in an ascending and descending manner. To guide you, here are the major scales in every key: C = C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C D = D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D E = E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E F = F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F G = G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G

A = A - B - C# - D B = B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B

F#

G#

3. Here are the other major scales for flats and sharps: C# = C# - D# - E# (=F) - F# - G# - A# - B# (=C) - C# Db = Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db Eb = Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D -Eb F# = F#= F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# (=F) - F# Gb = Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb (=B) - Db - Eb - F - Gb Ab = Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab Bb = Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb 4. To simplify, you can memorize this formula to form a major scale = whole step - whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - whole step - half step or w w-h-w-w-w-h 5. Now, assign numbers to each note of a major scale, always assign number one to the root note. For example, in the C major scale the numbers will be assigned as follows: C = 1 D = 2 E = 3 F = 4 G = 5 A = 6 B = 7 C=8 6. Now, in order to form a major triad play the notes numbered 1 + 3 + 5. In our example above, that is C + E + G, that's the C Major Triad. Do this pattern to form all the other major triad chords. 7. Added Tip: To play the chords with your right hand, use your thumb to play the root, your middle finger for the third note and your pinky to play the 5th note. For the left hand it's the other way around, with your pinky playing the root, your middle finger still playing the third note and your thumb playing the 5th note. 8. Try this: Try playing the following major triads in this pattern: C major triad - A major triad - F major triad - G major triad. You can play the notes on a chord one after the other or all at the same time. Just listen to how it sounds.

How To Form Minor Triads On A Keyboard If you know how to form major chords, you'll find it easy to learn how to form minor chords. In this lesson, we will learn how to form "minor triads." First let's define what a minor triad is; a triad are 3 notes either played together or pressed one after another. A minor chord is played using the 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a minor scale. A minor chord has a symbol of m or min. Here's how to form minor triads: Difficulty: Average Time Required: Depends on your playing level Here's How: 1. Learn all the note names on a keyboard. The white key to the left of two black keys is always a C; now moving to the next white keys on the right we have D - E - F - G - A - B then back to C again. These note names just keep repeating. The names of the black keys (and some white keys as well) varies depending on whether it's a sharp or a flat. For example, the black key next to C may either be a C# or a Db. 2. Learn how to play the minor scales, also known as natural minor. A scale is a series of notes that go in an ascending and descending manner. To guide you, here are the minor scales in every key: C = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C D = D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C - D E = E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E F = F - G - Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F G = G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G A = A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A B = B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B 3. Here are the other minor scales for flats and sharps: C# = C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A - B - C# Eb = Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb F# = F# - G# - A - B - C# - D - E - F# G# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# Bb = Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb

4. To simplify, you can memorize this formula to form a minor scale = whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - half step - whole step - whole step or w h - w - w - h - w - w. To make it easier, if you already know how to play a major triad chord, just lower the third note (or the note being pressed by your middle finger) a half-step to make it a minor triad. For example, a C major triad is C - E - G, lower the E a half step (=Eb), thus, a C minor triad is C - Eb - G. 5. Now, assign numbers to each note of a minor scale, always assign number one to the root note. For example, in the C minor scale the numbers will be assigned as follows: C = 1 D = 2 Eb = 3 F = 4 G = 5 Ab = 6 Bb = 7 C=8 6. Now, in order to form a minor triad play the notes numbered 1 + 3 + 5. In our example above for the key of C that is, C + Eb + G, that's the C Minor Triad. Do this pattern to form all the other minor triad chords. 7. Added Tip: To play the chords with your right hand, use your thumb to play the root, your middle finger for the third note and your pinky to play the 5th note. For the left hand it's the other way around, with your pinky playing the root, your middle finger still playing the third note and your thumb playing the 5th note. 8. Try this: Try playing the following minor triads in this pattern: C minor triad - A minor triad - F minor triad - G minor triad. You can play the notes on a chord one after the other or all at the same time. Just listen to how it sounds.

What are major and minor 7ths and how are they formed? Question: What are major and minor 7ths and how are they formed? You usually see these symbols on music sheets but may not know what it means. The symbol used to signify a major 7th is maj7 while min7 stands for minor 7th. Here is an explanation of what is the difference between these two types of chords and how they are formed. Answer: The major 7th chord is formed by playing the root (1st) + 3rd + 5th + 7th notes of a major scale. It is important to learn how to form the major scales and assign the numbers 1 to 7 (with 1 assigned to the root note) in order to learn how to play a major 7th chord easily. Here are the major 7th chords in every key: Cmaj7 = C Dmaj7 = D Emaj7 = E Fmaj7 = F Gmaj7 = G Amaj7 = A Bmaj7 = B C#maj7 = C# Dbmaj7 = Db Ebmaj7 = Eb F#maj7 = F# Gbmaj7 = Gb Abmaj7 = Ab Bbmaj7 = Bb - D - F - A E# A# Bb C E F# G# A B C# D# (F) F G C# G# Ab Bb Db Eb G A B C D E F# B# E# B C# D# E F# G# A# (C) C D (F) F G

A minor 7th chord is formed based on the major 7th chord, by lowering the 3rd and 7th note a half step (also means to flatten the 3rd and 7th). Here are the minor 7th chords in every key: Cm7 Dm7 Em7 Fm7 Gm7 Am7 Bm7 C#m7 Dbm7 Ebm7 = = = = = = = = = = C D E F G A B C# Db Eb Eb F G Ab Bb C D E E Gb G A B C D E F# G# Ab Bb Bb C D Eb F G A B B Db

F#m7 = F# Gbm7 = Gb Abm7 = Ab Bbm7 = Bb - Db - F - Ab

A A B

C# Db Eb

E E Gb

What are dominant 7th's and is it the same as a major 7th chord? Question: What are dominant 7th's and is it the same as a major 7th chord? Learning chords may seem tricky and confusing, especially for beginners. Don't despair, once you understand how these chords are related and their respective patterns, you'll see that chords aren't so hard to learn after all. Answer: A dominant 7th uses the symbol of a note name + 7. For example: C7, D7, E7, etc. It is different from the symbol used for a major 7th which is maj7. A dominant 7th is not the same as a major 7th chord. But, to form a dominant 7th you must know how to form a major 7th chord first because these two types of chords are related. A major 7th chord is formed by playing the root (1st) + 3rd + 5th + 7th notes of a major scale. Adominant 7th is formed by simply lowering the 7th note a half step. As an example, Cmaj7 = C - E - G - B (7th note). Lower the 7th note a half step, from B to Bb, thus Dominant 7th = C - E - G - Bb. Here are the dominant 7th chords C7 = C E D7 = D F# E7 = E G# F7 = F A G7 = G B A7 = A C# B7 = B D# C#7 = C# E# (F) Db7 = Db F Eb7 = Eb G F#7 = F# A# Gb7 = Gb Bb Ab7 = Ab C Bb7 = Bb - D - F - Ab in G A B C D E F# G# Ab Bb C# Db Eb every key: Bb C D Eb F G A B B Db E E Gb

How To Invert Triads Chord inversions are used by composers and musicians for modulation, to create a melodic bass line and generally to make music more interesting. A chord inversion simply means rearranging the notes in a given chord. Inversions can also be applied to intervals and melodies, for this lesson however, we will focus on inverting triads. Difficulty: Average Time Required: Varies, depending on playing level Here's How: 1. Learn the root position of triads in both major andminor keys. When we say root position it refers to the normal position of chords in which the root note is at the bottom; root + third + fifth (1+3+5). For example a C major triad is C+E+G, with C as the root note. 2. For the first inversion of a triad simply move the root note at the top an octave higher. So if the root position of a C major chord is C+E+G, moving the root note (C) at the top makes the first inversion as E+G+C (3+5+1). 3. For the second inversion of a triad move the lowest note and place it on top of the root note. Let's take the C major chord as an example again, the first inversion of this chord is E+G+C with E being the lowest note. Move E above the root note which is C to make the second inversion of G+C+E (5+1+3). 4. Usually, triads are referred to as having only two inversions. This is because when you invert a triad a third time you return to the root position an octave higher.

What Are Diminished and Augmented Triads? Question: What Are Diminished and Augmented Triads? Answer: There are two more types of triads called diminished and augmented chords. Diminished Chord - Uses the symbol "o" or "dim" and is formed by playing the first note (root) + flatted third (b3) + flatted fifth (b5) of a major scale. When you add another minor third (b3) to a diminished chord it becomes a tetrad or a four-note chord. The symbol used for this is "o7." Two commonly used types of tetrad are the dominant 7th (7) and the major 7th (maj7) chords. Here are the diminished C dim = C G dim = G D dim = D A dim = A E dim = E B dim = B F# dim = F# Gb dim = Gb Db dim = Db C# dim = C# Ab dim = Ab Eb dim = Eb Bb dim = Bb F dim = F - Ab - B chords in different Eb Bb F C G D A A E E B Gb Db keys: Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C C G G D A E

Augmented Chord - Uses the symbol "+" or "aug." and is formed by playing the first note (root) + third note + sharped fifth (#5th) of a major scale. Here C G D A E B F# Gb Db C# are aug aug aug aug aug aug aug aug aug aug the augmented = C = G = D = A = E = B = F# = Gb = Db C# chords E# in different E B F# C# G# D# A# Bb F (or F) keys: G# D# A# F C G D D A A

Ab aug Eb aug Bb aug F aug = F - A - C#

= = =

Ab Eb Bb

C G D

E B F#

Sixth and Ninth Chords How to Form Other Chords There are other chords you can use to make your music more interesting: Sixth Chords - Is formed by adding a sixth to either a major or minor triad. For example to form a C6 chord you will start on a C major triad which is C-E-G, then you add the major sixth which is A. So C6 = C-E-G-A. For a minor sixth chord the principle is the same but you will construct if from a minor triad. For example to form a Cm6 chord you will start on a C minor triad which is C-Eb-G, then you add the major sixth which is A. So Cm6 = C-Eb-G-A. To simplify, the formula for a sixth chord is the 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + 6th notes of a major or minor scale. Ninth Chords - Is formed from either a dominant 7th, major 7th or minor 7th chord by adding the ninth. There are three commonly used types of ninth chord: 1. Dominant 9th Chord (ex. C9) - Formed by playing the1st + maj 3rd + 5th + flat 7th + 9th. Simply put, you start with a dominant 7th chord then add the 9th. 2. Major 9th (Ex. Cmaj9)- Formed by playing the 1st + maj 3rd + 5th + maj 7th + 9th of a major chord. In other words you start from a major 7th chord and then add the 9th. 3. Minor 9th (Ex. Cm9) - Formed by playing the 1st + min 3rd + 5th + flat 7th + 9th of a minor chord. Simply put, you start with a minor 7th chord then add the 9th.

Understanding Dissonant and Consonant Chords Consonant chords sound harmonious and pleasing, while dissonant chords elicit a feeling of tension and sounds like the notes are clashing. In Western music the following intervals are considered consonant:

minor third - For example from C to Eb major third - For example from C to E perfect fourth - For example from C to F perfect fifth - For example from C to G minor sixth - For example from C to Ab major sixth - For example from C to A octave - For example from C to C

On the other hand these intervals are considered dissonant:

minor second - For example from C - Db major second - For example from C to D minor seventh - For example from C to Bb major seventh - For example from C to B tritone - For example from C to F#, tritone is also known as an augmented 4th or diminished fifth and it has an interval of 3 whole steps.

Most often dissonance is resolved by moving to a consonant chord. This makes the initial feeling of tension created by dissonant chords to reach a resolution. The common term for this is tension and release. However, dissonance doesn't always need to be resolved, also perceiving chords as dissonant tends to be subjective.

Forming Different Chords Quick Reference Guide Using different types of chords will make your music sound fuller and less predictable. Here's a quick reference table on how to form various triads and tetrads. Forming Chords Guide to Forming Chords Type of Chord Major Triad Minor Triad Diminished Triads Augmented Triads Major 7th Chord Minor 7th Chord Chord Structure 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a major scale 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a minor scale 1st (root) + flatted 3rd (b3) + flatted 5th (b5) notes of a major scale 1st (root) + 3rd + sharped 5th (#5th) notes of a major scale. 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + 7th notes of a major scale 1st (root) + flatted 3rd (b3) + 5th + flatted 7th (b7) notes (derived from a major scale)

Dominant 7th Chord 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th (b7) notes of a major scale Sixth Chord 1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + 6th notes of a major or minor scale.

Dominant 9th Chord add a ninth to a dominant 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th + 9th) Major 9th Chord Minor 9th Chord sus2 Chord sus4 Chord add a ninth to a major 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + 7th + 9th) add a ninth to a minor 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th + 9th) 1st (root) + 2nd + 5th notes of either a major or minor scale 1st (root) + 4th + 5th notes of either a major or minor scale

The I - IV - V Chord Pattern Songwriting 101 By Espie Estrella, About.com Guide See More About:

songwriting 101 chord patterns composers arrangers lyricists Ads Learn Music TheoryComprehensive & engaging. Easy-to-use music theory software.www.RisingSoftware.com/download Free Harmonica LessonsFun for Beginners Free YouTube Lessons Nowwww.Harmonica.com How To Sing - Really SingBreakthrough Method Releases Your Unique Singing Voice! Watch Videoswww.TheSingingZone.com Music Education Ads Piano Sheet Music Free Piano Sheet Music Play Guitar Chords Guitar Chords Guitar Music Theory Let's refresh what we've learned so far about scales and chords. Before you learn how to form certain chords you must first learn about scales. A scale is a series of notes that go in an ascending and descending manner. For every scale (major or minor) there are 7 notes, for example in the key of C the notes are C - D E - F - G - A - B. The 8th note (in this example will be C) goes back to the root note but an octave higher.

Each note of a scale has a corresponding number from 1 to 7. So for the key of C it will be as follows: C = 1 D = 2 E = 3 F = 4 G = 5 A = 6 B=7

In order to make a major triad you will play the 1st + 3rd + 5th notes of a major scale. In our example it is C - E - G, that's the C major chord. Let's have C D Eb F G Ab Bb = 7 another example this = = = = = = time using the C minor scale: 1 2 3 4 5 6

In order to make a minor triad you will play the 1st + 3rd + 5th notes of a minor scale. In our example it is C - Eb - G, that's the C minor chord. Guide Notes: For the next entry we will omit the 7th and 8th notes to make it less confusing. Roman Numerals Sometimes instead of numbers Roman Numerals are used. We go back to our example and use a Roman Numeral for each note in the key of C: C = I D = ii E = iii F = IV G = V A = vi Roman numeral I refers to the chord built on the first note of the C major scale. Roman numeral II refers to the chord built on the second note of the C major scale, and so on. If you notice, some of the Roman numerals are capitalized while others are not. Uppercase Roman numerals pertain to a major chord, while lowercase Roman numerals pertain to a minor chord. Uppercase Roman numerals with a (+) symbol refer to an augmented chord. Lowercase Roman numerals with a (o) symbol refer to a diminished chord.

The I, IV and V Chord Pattern For each key there are 3 chords that are played more than others known as "primary chords." The I - IV - V chords are built from the 1st, 4th and 5th note of a scale. Let's take the key of C again as an example, looking at the illustration above, you will notice that note I on the key of C is C, note IV is F and note V is G. Therefor the I - IV - V chord pattern for the key of C is: C (note I) = C - E- G (1st + 3rd + 5th note of the C scale) F (note IV) = F - A - C (1st + 3rd + 5th note of the F scale) G (note V) = G - B - D (1st + 3rd + 5th note of the G scale) There are many songs that have been written using the I - IV - V chord pattern, "Home on the Range" is one example. Practice playing the I - IV - V chord pattern for every major key and listen to how it sounds as this might inspire you to come up with a great melody for your song. Here's a handy table to guide you. I - IV - V Chord Pattern Major Key - Chord Pattern Key of C Key of D Key of E Key of F Key of G Key of A Key of B Key of Db C-F-G D-G-A E-A-B F - Bb - C G-C-D A-D-E B - E - F# Db - Gb - Ab

Key of Eb Key of Gb Key of Ab Key of Bb

Eb - Ab - Bb Gb - Cb - Db Ab - Db - Eb Bb - Eb - F

The ii, iii, and vi Chords We've learned how to form and play the I, IV and V chords. Now let's learn about the ii, iii, and vi chords. Constructing ii, iii, and vi chords These chords are built from the 2nd, 3rd and 6th notes of a scale and are all minor chords. Note that these chords come from the same key as the I, IV and V chords. Let's take the key of D for example: D Em F#m G A Bm = vi = = = = = I ii iii IV V

Note that the chords built on the 2nd, 3rd and 6th notes of the key of D are Em F#m and Bm. Therefor the ii - iii - vi chord pattern for the key of D is: Em (note ii) = E - G - B (1st + 3rd + 5th notes of the Em scale) F#m (note iii) = F# - A - C# (1st + 3rd + 5th notes of the F#m scale) Bm (note vi) = B - D - F# (1st + 3rd + 5th notes of the Bm scale)

Memorize all the minor chords for every key. If you combine these chords with the major chords that form the I - IV - V pattern your melodies will become fuller and less predictable. As always I made a table so you can easily see the ii, iii and vi chords in every key. Clicking on the chord name will bring you to an illustration which will show you how to play each chord on a keyboard.

Major Key - Chord Pattern Key of C Key of D Key of E Key of F Key of G Key of A Key of B Key of Db Key of Eb Key of Gb Key of Ab Key of Bb The ii, iii and vi Chords Dm - Em - Am Em - F#m - Bm F#m - G#m - C#m Gm - Am - Dm Am - Bm - Em Bm - C#m - F#m C#m - D#m - G#m Ebm - Fm - Bbm Fm - Gm - Cm Abm - Bbm - Ebm Bbm - Cm - Fm Cm - Dm - Gm

Music History What is Music? Dictionaries and encyclopedias define music as "an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner." It is also defined as "any pleasing and harmonious sound" and "the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments." (Source: wordnet.princeton.edu) There are a lot of definitions for music and it will take a whole book to explore the subject of music. If there is one true definition of music it is this; music is universal and yet it is also relative and subjective. What may be music to one may not be so to another. For me music is the singing of the birds, the whistling of my husband as he takes a shower, the soft humming of my little girl as she quietly plays, the beautiful sounds a pianist produces as he touches the keys of a piano... Take a moment to ponder what the meaning of music is for you. Origin and History of Music There are many theories regarding when and where music originated. Many agree that music began even before man existed. Historiographers point out that there are six periods of music and each period has a particular style of music that greatly contributed to what music is today. Here are some resources for you to better understand the history of music. Links are arranged chronologically and is a great primer to learn more about every stage of music development. Medieval/Middle Ages Music during the Middle Ages is characterized by the beginning of musical notation as well as polyphony. During this time, there were two general types of music styles; the monophonic and the polyphonic.

Medieval Music Timeline During the Middle Ages or Medieval period, musical notation began as well as the birth ofpolyphony. 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 polyphonywas 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 andGuillaume Dufay. Composers/Musicians of the Middle Ages 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. 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."

The Beginning of Polyphony Polyphony is a characteristic of Western music. In its early form, polyphony was based on plainchant. It began when singers started improvising with parallel melodies, with emphasis on fourth (ex. C to F) and fifth (ex. C to G) intervals. This marked the start of polyphony wherein several musical lines were combined. As singers continued experimenting with melodies, polyphony became more elaborate and complex. Cantus Firmus One type of melody is called the cantus firmus from which other melodies or voices were derived. A composer often based the melody he wrote for other parts on the cantus firmus. Cantus firmus was commonly used in the Middle Ages and was strongly based on the Gregorian Chant. Motet Motet emerged in Paris around the year 1200. It is a type of polyphonic vocal music which uses rhythm patterns. Early motets were both sacred and secular; touching on subjects like love, politics and religion. It flourished until the 1700s and today is still being used by the Catholic Church. Round A round is a vocal piece wherein different voices sing the same melody, at the same pitch, but the lines are successively sung. An early example of a round is Sumer is icumen in, a piece that is also an example of a six-voice polyphony. The children's song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is an example of a round. The Role of Ministrels, Troubadours and Minnesingers Ministrels, also called jongleurs, were traveling musicians and jugglers who performed in streets and courts during the 11th and 12th centuries. Their works represent the early forms of secular music. Troubadours on the other hand were French musicians and poets who wrote courtly love poems and set it to music. They performed their songs in European courts and throughout the country. Eventually their popularity reached and flourished in Germany during the 12th and 13th centuries where they became known as minnesingers. These performers helped spread vocal music which later evolved into other forms.

Renaissance Renaissance means "rebirth" and in music this period brought about many changes in the way music was created and perceived.

Renaissance Music Timeline Renaissance or "rebirth," a period of significant changes in history, including music. 1400 - 1474 - Guillaume Dufay, known as the transitional figure to the Renaissance. 1450 - 1550 - During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Cantus firmus was commonly used in the Middle Ages which was strongly based on the Gregorian Chant. Known composers during this period were Johannes Ockeghem, Jacob Obrecht and Josquin Desprez. 1517 - Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther. Significant changes occurred to church musicsuch as the chorale, hymns that were meant to be sung by a congregation. Its earliest form was monophonic and then evolved to four part harmony. It was also the period when psalms of the Bible were translated into French and then set to music. 1550 - Catholic Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563 to discuss complaints against the church including its music. 1500 - 1550 - The French Chanson, a polyphonic French song that was originally for 2 to 4 voices. During the Renaissance, composers were less restricted to the formes fixes (fixed form) of chansons and experimented on new styles that were similar to contemporary motets and liturgical music. Known composers during this period wereClment Janequin and Claudin de Sermisy. 1500 - 1620 - Italian Madrigal, polyphonic secular music that were performed in groups of 4 to 6 singers who sang mostly love songs. There were three periods of the Italian Madrigal 1500 - 1540 - Known composers were Adrian Willaert and Jacob Arcadelt. 1540 - 1570 - Known composers were again Adrian Willaert and Orlando Lassus. 1570 - 1610 - Known composers were Luca Marenzio, Carlo Gesualdo and Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi is also known as the transitional figure to the Baroque music era. 1570 -1605 - John Farmer, English madrigal composer.

1525 - 1594 - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, known as the High Renaissance composer of Counter-Reformation sacred music. During this period Renaissance polyphony reached its height. 1548 - 1611 - Tomas Luis de Victoria, known Spanish composer during the Renaissance who composed mainly sacred music. 1554 - 1612 - Giovanni Gabrielli, known composer in Venetian High Renaissance music who wrote instrumental and church music. 1543 - 1623 - William Byrd, leading English composer of the late Renaissance who composed church, secular, consort and keyboard music. 1563 - 1626 - John Dowland, known for his lute music in Europe and composed beautiful melancholic music. Music Forms/Styles of the Renaissance In Italy during the Renaissance, a new philosophy called "humanism" developed. The emphasis of humanism is on the quality of life on earth, much different from earlier beliefs that life should be viewed as a preparation for death. By this time the influence of the Church on the arts grew weak, composers and their patrons were ready for new artistic ideas. Flemish composers and musicians were summoned to teach and perform in Italian courts and the invention of printing helped spread these new ideas. Imitative Counterpoint Josquin Desprez became one of the most important composers of this period. His music was widely published and appreciated in Europe. Desprez wrote both sacred and secular music, focusing more onmotets of which he wrote over a hundred. He utilized what is known as "imitative counterpoint," wherein each voice part enters successively using the same note patterns. Imitative counterpoint was used by French and Burgundian composers in writing chansons, or secular poems set to music for instruments and solo voices. Madrigals By the 1500s, the simplicity of earlier madrigals were replaced by more elaborate forms, using 4 to 6 voice parts. Claudio Monteverdi was one of the leading Italian composers of madrigals.

Religion and Music Religious Reformation occurred in the early half of the 1500s. Martin Luther, a German priest, wanted to reform the Roman Catholic Church. He spoke to the Pope and those holding positions in the church about the need to change certain Catholic practices. Luther also wrote and published 3 books in 1520. Sensing that his pleas were left unheard, Luther sought the help of princes and feudal lords which lead to a political uprising. Luther was one of the forerunners of Protestantism which eventually led to the founding of the Lutheran Church. Luther kept certain elements of the Latin liturgy in his religious services. Other Protestant denominations were established as a result of the Reformation. In France, another Protestant named John Calvin sought to eliminate music from worship. In Switzerland, Huldreich Zwingli likewise believed that music should be removed from worship as well as holy images and statues. In Scotland, John Knox founded the Church of Scotland. There were changes within the Catholic Church as well. A need for simpler melodies that did not overpower the text were sought. Giovanni Perlugi de Palestrina was one of the prominent composers during this time. Instrumental Music By the second half of the 1500s instrumental music began to take shape. The instrumental canzone made use of brass instruments; music for keyboard instruments such as theclavichord, harpsichord and organ were also written. The lute was widely used at that time, both to accompany singing and for instrumental music. At first only instruments of the same family were played together, but eventually mixed instruments were used.

1. Jacob Arcadelt One of the composers who helped establish the madrigal musical form. 2. William Byrd One of the leading English composers of the late Renaissance who helped develop English madrigals. He wrote church, secular, consort and keyboard music, among others. He served as organist at Chapel Royal, a post he shared with his mentor Thomas Tallis.

3. Claudin de Sermisy One of the composers who greatly influenced Parisian Chansons. 4. Josquin Desprez One of the most important composers of this period. His music was widely published and appreciated in Europe. Desprez wrote both sacred and secular music, focusing more on motets of which he wrote over a hundred. 5. Tomas Luis de Victoria Spanish composer during the Renaissance who composed mainly sacred music. 6. John Dowland Known for his lute music in Europe and composed beautiful melancholic music. 7. Guillaume Dufay Known as the transitional figure to the Renaissance. 8. John Farmer English madrigal composer whose work titled "Fair Phyllis I Saw Sitting All Alone," was one of the most popular pieces of his time. 9. Giovanni Gabrielli Wrote music for St. Mark's as well as Monteverdi and Stravinsky. Gabrielli experimented with choral and instrumental groups, positioning them in different sides of the basilica and making them perform alternately or in unison. 10. Carlo Gesualdo

Photo Courtesy of Cantate Online Considered to be an innovative composer of Italian madrigals. Gesualdo is quite a brilliant composer and yet the tragedy that happened in his private life haunted him until his death. 11. Clement Janequin Composer who was also an ordained priest. He specialized in chansons and took it to a new degree by using descriptive elements. 12. Orlando Lassus Composed church and secular voice music.

13. Luca Marenzio One of the most renowned madrigal composers. 14. Claudio Monteverdi

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Known as the transitional figure to the Baroque music era. 15. Jacob Obrecht One of the well known Franco-Flemish composers of his time. 16. Johannes Ockeghem One of the most influential composers of the Early Renaissance and one of the fathers of Renaissance music. 17. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Wrote secular, liturgical and religious pieces. 18. Thomas Tallis

from Wikimedia Commons An English composer known for his mastery of contrapuntal techniques. Although there is little information about his early years, it is known that composer William Byrd became one of his pupils.

Baroque The word "baroque" comes from the Italian word "barocco" which means bizarre. The Baroque period was a time when composers experimented with form, styles and instruments. This period saw the development of opera and instrumental music.

Baroque Music Timeline The word "baroque" comes from the Italian word "barocco" which means bizarre. This word was first used to describe the style of architecture mainly in Italy during the 17th and 18th century. Later on the word baroque was used to describe the music styles of the 1600s to the 1700s. The Baroque period was a time when composers experimented with form, styles and instruments. This period saw the development of opera and instrumental music. The violin was also considered an important musical instrument during this time.

1573 - The first known meeting of the Florentine Camerata, a group of musicians who came together to discuss various subjects including the arts. It is said that the members were interested in reviving the Greek dramatic style. Both the monodies and the opera are believed to have come out from their discussions and experimentation. Some of the known members of the Florentine Camerata are Jacopo Peri andClaudio Monteverdi 1597 - The period of the early opera which will last until 1650. Opera is generally defined as a stage presentation or work that combines music, costumes, and scenery to relay a story. Most operas are sung, with no spoken lines. During the Baroque period, operas were derived from ancient Greek tragedy and there was often an overture at the beginning, a solo part and both an orchestra andchorus are present. Some examples of early operas are "Eurydice" which had two settings; one by Jacopo Peri and the other by Giulio Caccini. Another example is "Orpheus" and "Coronation of Poppea" by Claudio Monteverdi. 1600 - Start of monody which will last until the 1700s. Monody refers to an accompanied solo music. Examples of early monody can be found in the book Le Nuove Musiche by Giulio Caccini. The said book is a collection of songs for the figured bass and solo voice, it also included madrigals. Le Nuove Musiche is considered one of Caccini's most important work. 1650 - During this era, musicians did a lot of improvisation. The basso continuo or figured bass is music created by combining keyboard music and one or more bass instruments. The period from 1650 to 1750 is known as

the Age of Instrumental Music where other forms of music developed including the suite and sonata. 1700 - Until 1750 this is known as the High Baroque period. Italian opera became more expressive and expansive. The composer/violinist Arcangelo Corelli became known and music for the harpsichord was also given importance. Bach and Handel are known as the figures of the late Baroque music. Other forms of music like the canons and fugues evolved during this time.

Baroque Music Composers The word "baroque" comes from the Italian word "barocco" which means bizarre. The Baroque period was a time when composers experimented with form, styles and instruments. This period saw the development of opera and instrumental music. Some notable composers during this period or those whose works represent Baroque music are: 1. Johann Sebastian Bach

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons The Bach family is one of the most notable German musicians in history. Out of this lineage comes the celebrated composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach wrote more than 1,000 compositions in every genre except opera. 2. Dietrich Buxtehude

from Wikimedia Commons An organist and highly-regarded composer of church music who influenced other composers such as George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach is

said to have walked from Thuringia to Lubeck (more than 200 miles) to hear him play. 3. Arcangelo Corelli

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons During the High Baroque period, Italian opera became more expressive and expansive. During this time, the composer/violinist Arcangelo Corelli became known and music for the harpsichord was also given importance. 4. Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons One of the most notable women composers during the Baroque period. She was known as a gifted harpsichordist, improviser and composer. 5. George Frideric Handel

Public Domain Portrait by Balthasar Denner from Wikimedia Commons Composed operas and oratorios; the most famous of which is "Messiah." Handel also wrote cantatas based on the Italian style.

6. Jean-Baptiste Lully

from Wikimedia Commons A violinist in Louis XIVs court band and later became the King's court composer. Lully helped establish the French opera and overture styles. He is said to be very ambitious to the point of being ruthless and many intrigues followed him, especially at the height of his career. 7. Henry Purcell One of the great composers of the Baroque period and one of the great English composers. He wrote among others, operas, incidental stage music, chamber music including suites and sonatas, church music and court music. 8. Jean-Philippe Rameau

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons A French organist, harpsichord teacher, music theorist and composer. A very inspiring fact about this composer is that many of his works, especially his operas, were written when he was already in his 50s. Rameau was embroiled in several controversies; the first was brought about by those who supported the works of Lully and the second, by those who favored the style reflected in Pergolesi's works. 9. Domenico Scarlatti

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons An Italian composer of the Baroque period. He was a harpsichord virtuoso who wrote over 500 sonatas. His influence reverberates in the works of other composers such as Carlos de Seixas; a Portuguese composer of keyboard music.

10. Heinrich Schtz A German composer of the 17th century whose works influenced other composers after him, including Johann Sebastian Bach. His works include Italian madrigals, an opera, vocal and instrumental pieces. 11. Antonio Vivaldi

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Believed to have invented the ritornello form; he was a virtuoso violinist, composer and maestro de concertin. Vivaldi influenced instrumental music during the latter part of the Baroque period. Music Forms/Styles of the Baroque Period Venice and the Opera In 1573, a group of musicians and intellectuals came together to discuss various subjects, especially the desire to revive Greek drama. This group of individuals are known as the Florentine Camerata, they wanted lines to be sung instead of simply being spoken. From this came the opera which existed in Italy around 1600. The composer Claduio Monteverdi was an important contributor, specifically his opera Orfeo; the first opera to gain public acclaim. At first the opera was only for the upper class or aristocrats but soon even the general public patronized it. Venice became the center of musical activity; in 1637, a public opera house was built there. Different singing styles where developed for the opera such as

recitative - imitating the pattern and rhythm of speech aria - when a character expresses feelings through a flowing melody bel canto - Italian for "beautiful singing" castrato - During the Baroque period, young boys were castrated before they reached puberty to avoid the deepening of voice. Main roles of the opera were written for the castrato.

St. Mark's Basilica This basilica in Venice became an important venue for musical experiments during the early Baroque period. The composer Giovanni Gabrielli wrote music for St. Mark's as well as Monteverdi and Stravinsky. Gabrielli experimented with choral and instrumental groups, positioning them in different sides of the basilica and making them perform alternately or in unison. Gabrielli also experimented in the contrasts of sound - fast or slow, loud or soft. Musical Contrast During the Baroque period, composers experimented with musical contrasts that differed greatly from the music of the Renaissance. They used what is known as a melodic soprano line supported by a bass line. Music became homophonic, meaning it was based on one melody with harmonic support coming from a keyboard player. Tonality was divided into major and minor. Favorite Themes and Musical Instruments Ancient myths were a favorite theme of Baroque opera composers. Instruments used were brass, strings, especially violins (Amati and Stradivari), harpsichord, organ and cello. Other Music Forms Aside from the opera, composers also wrote numerous sonatas, concerto grosso and choral works. It is important to point out that composers at the time were employed by the Church or the aristocrats and as such were expected to produce compositions in large volumes, at times in a moments notice. In Germany, organ music using the toccata form was popular. Toccata is an instrumental piece that alternates between improvisation and contrapuntal passages. From the toccata emerged what is known as prelude and fugue, an instrumental music beginning with a short "free style" piece (prelude) followed by a contrapuntal piece using imitative counterpoint (fugue). Other music forms of the Baroque period are the chorale prelude, Mass and oratorio, Notable Composers

Jean Baptiste-Lully - Wrote Italian opera

Domenico Scarlatti - Over 500 sonatas for the harpsichord Antonio Vivaldi - Wrote operas and over 400 concertos George Frideric Handel - Composed operas and oratorios, the most famous of which is "Messiah." Johann Sebastian Bach - Composed thousands of works in various forms, excluding the opera.

The Suite Baroque Dance Suite The suite is a type of instrumental dance music that emerged during the Renaissance and was further developed during the Baroque Period. It consists of several movements or short pieces in the same key and functions as dance music or dinner music during social gatherings. Dance music was very popular during the 16th and 17th century and composers were often asked to play such pieces during social functions. As a result, musicians began collecting dance pieces in the same key; these pieces became known collectively as "suites." By the time of JS Bach, suites were composed of four main movements: allemande, courante,sarabande and gigue. Optional movements include:air, bourree (lively dance), gavotte (moderately fast dance), minuet, polonaise, and prelude. Each of the four main movements is based on a dance form from another country. Thus, each movement has a characteristic sound and varies in rhythm and meter. Instruments used to play suites include the cello,harpsichord, lute and violin. Suites were performed either on a solo instrument or by a group of instruments. Notable composers of suites include Bach, Handel, Couperin and Froberger. Listen to Bach's "Cello Suite No. 1 - Prelude" courtesy of YouTube. The table below gives you further information on the main movements of the dance suite. Dance Suite Movements

Dance Suite Movements Type of Dance Allemande Courante Sarabande Gigue Country/Meter/How to Play Germany, 4/4, Moderate France, 3/4, Quick Spain, 3/4, Slow England, 6/8, Fast

Classical The music of the Classical period, which spans from 1750 to 1820, is characterized by simpler melodies and forms such as the sonatas. The piano was undoubtedly the primary instrument used by composers during the Classical period.

Music Events During the Classical Period 1750 to 1820 The music of the Classical period, which spans from 1750 to 1820, is characterized by simpler melodies and forms such as the sonatas. The piano was undoubtedly the primary instrument used by composers during this period. Here's a timeline of important events in music history which happened during the 1750s all the way to 1820. 1750 - Johann Sebastian Bach died. Also, in chamber music, the string quartet (consists of 2 violins, viola and cello) was popular. In New York, John Gay's "The Beggar's Opera" was performed. 1751 - In Europe, the minuet was a popular dance. 1752 - The composer and piano prodigy, Muzio Clementi was born. 1753 - Italian composer and violinist, Giovanni Viotti, was born. 1756 - The Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was born. 1757 - The Italian composers Niccolo Pasquali andDomenico Scarlatti passed away. Johann Stamitz, a German composer also died. 1759 - Baroque composer George Frederic Handelpassed away. 1761 - Franz Joseph Haydn, important figure in Classical music history, worked as Kapellmeister for Prince Pl Antal Esterhzy. Haydn was instrumental in establishing the symphony and string quartet. 1762 - Benjamin Franklin improved the glass harmonica. In Charleston, South Carolina, a musical group called St. Cecilia Society was founded. Now aged 6, music prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart toured Europe. Also, "Orfeo ed Euridice" by Christoph Willibald Gluck was created. 1764 - Johann Christian Bach performed in London. Also, Mozart wrote his first symphony.

1767 - German composer Georg Philipp Telemann passed away. CPE Bach succeeded him as director of church music in Hamburg. 1769 - Junipero Srra led a group of Franciscan friars on a mission to teach Native Americans polyphony and plainsong. 1770 - German composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born. Also, the New England Psalm Singer, the first collection of music composed in America, was published by William Billings. In New York, Handel's "Messiah," was first performed. Meanwhile Johann Christian Bach published his "6 Concerti for pianoforte," Op. 7. 1773 - In Vienna, the waltz was popular. 1776 - La Scala, a major opera venue was built in Milan. Also, a book on the history of music was published by Charles Burney. 1778 - Ludwig van Beethoven was presented by his father as a music prodigy. Also, La Scala opened. 1780 - Sebastiano Carezo invented the Spanish dance called "bolero." 1781 - The great classical musician, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, moved to Vienna where he created some of his most popular works. 1782 - Johann Christian Bach passed away. Also, Italian composer and violinist Niccolo Paganini was born. 1784 - Wilhelm Freidemann Bach passed away. 1786 - In Vienna, Mozart's " The Marriage of Figaro," premiered. Also, German composerCarl Maria von Weber was born. 1787 - Mozart's father, Leopold, passed away. In Prague, Mozart's "Don Giovanni," premiered. 1788 - CPE Bach passed away. 1790 - In Vienna, Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte," premiered. 1791 - Austrian composer, Carl Czerny, and German composer, Giacomo Meyerbeer, were born. In Vienna, Mozart's "Magic Flute," was first performed. Mozart also passed away on the same year. Also, Haydn's first London Symphonies was performed. 1792 - Haydn becomes Beethoven's teacher. Also, Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini was born. 1793 - Niccolo Paganini debuted as a violin virtuoso at age 11.

1795 - The Paris Conservatory of Music was founded. 1797 - Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti and Austrian composer Franz Schubert were born. 1801 - Beethoven's "Symphony #1 in C Major" was first performed in Vienna. 1803 - The master of orchestration, Louis-Hector Berlioz, was born. 1809 - Felix Mendelssohn, one of the most prolific composers of the Romantic period, was born. 1810 - On this year, two great Romantic composers were born; Fryderyk Franciszek Chopinand Robert Schumann 1811 - The figurehead of the New German school and the piano virtuoso Franz Liszt was born. 1813 - The German Composer Richard Wagner was born. That same year, Giuseppe Verdi, another composer of opera music, was born. Another major event happened on this year, E.T.A. Hoffmann proposed his idea of "the artist as spiritual hero" which became an important theme during the Romantic period. 1818 - The French composer, Charles Gounod, was born. 1819 - Clara Wieck Schumann, the foremost female composer of the 19th century, was born.

Music of the Classical Period Style Galant By the early 1700s, French and Italian composers used the "style gallant" or gallant style; a simple yet more direct style of music. During this time, the aristocrats weren't the only ones who appreciated music, but those in the middle class as well. So composers wanted to create music that was less complicated; easy to understand. The people grew disinterested with themes of ancient myths and instead favored themes they could relate to. This trend transcended not only to music but also to other art forms. Bach's son, Johann Christian, used the gallant style.

Sentimental Style In Germany a similar style called "sentimental style" or smfindsamer stil were adapted by composers. This style of music reflected feelings and situations experienced in daily life. Largely different fromBaroque music which was mostly flamboyant, new music styles during the Classical period had simplerharmony and clearer tonality. Opera The type of opera audiences preferred during this period was the comic opera. Also known as light opera, this type of opera often tackles light, not so delicate subject matter where the ending often has a happy resolution. Other forms of this opera are opera buffa and operetta. In this type of opera, the dialogue is often spoken and not sung. An example of this is La serva padrona ("The Maid as Mistress") by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. Other Music Forms

Overture - Has three sections, a fast intro, a slow middle section and a fast ending. Symphony - Has 3, sometimes 4 movements. The beginning is moderately fast, next section is slow followed by a minuet and then a very fast conclusion. Sonata allegro - Also called sonata, this is one of the most important music forms of this period. This type of music is written for a solo instrument, or a solo instrument with accompaniment; having three or four movements, each complete in itself. Also used to define the first movement of a symphony like that of Haydn's symphonies.

Musical Instruments Musical instruments of the orchestra included a string section and pairs of bassoons, flutes, horns and oboes. The harpsichord was eliminated and was replaced by the pianoforte. Notable Composers

Johann Stamitz - Organized the Mannheim of crescendo and diminuendoeffects in his music.

orchestra,

made

use

Franz Joseph Haydn - Wrote hundreds of symphonies, also sonatas and string quartets. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Composed symphonies, sonatas, string quartets, operas (e.g. "Marriage of Figaro"), Mass settings and concertos. Ludwig van Beethoven - The first major composer who contributed to the shift of a composer's social status - from a servant to an artist.

Romantic Historiographers define the Romantic Music period to be between 1800 to 1900. It is characterized by using music to tell a story or express an idea, and the use of various instruments including wind instruments. Melodies are fuller and more dramatic. Romantic Music Timeline And Other Music-Related Events Historiographers define the Romantic period to be between 1800 to 1900. It is characterized by using music to tell a story or express an idea, the use of various instruments including wind instruments and melodies are fuller and more dramatic. Here is a timeline of music-related events from 1821 to 1900 to give you an idea of the major music events that occurred during the Romantic Period.

1821 - The harmonica was invented by Friedrich Buschmann. 1825 - Carl Almenrder redesigned the French bassoon. 1826 - Carl Maria von Weber died. 1827 - Ludwig van Beethoven died. 1828 - Franz Schubert died. 1829 - Felix Mendelssohn conducted the first modern performance of J.S. Bach's "St. Matthew Passion." 1830 - Louis-Hector Berlioz completed his "Symphonie Fantastique." 1831 - Vincenzo Bellini's opera, Norma, was first performed at La Scala in MIlan. 1832 - Frdric Chopin performed his "Piano Concerto in F Minor" and the "Variations, opus 2" in Paris. 1833 - Johannes Brahms was born. 1838 - Georges Bizet was born. Also in the same year in Scotland, music was published in Braille notation. 1840 - Pyotr Il'Yich Tchaikovsky was born and Niccol Paganini died. Also, the clarinet was redesigned giving it its mature form. 1841 - Felix Mendelssohn became the director of the Leipzig Conservatory. 1842 - The New York Philharmonic Orchestra was founded. 1846 - Adolphe Sax patented his first saxophone. 1847 - Felix Mendelssohn died. 1849 - Frederic Chopin died. 1853 - Giuseppe Verdi wrote his "La traviata." 1856 - Henry Engelhard Steinway created his first grand piano. 1858 - The Italian composer Giacomo Puccini was born.

1859 - In New Orleans, Louisiana, the first opera house was opened. 1862 - Claude DeBussy, one of the most influential composers of his time, was born. 1864 - The German composer, Richard Strauss was born. 1867 - Amy Beach, the first major American female composer, was born. 1868 - Gioacchino Rossini died. 1869 - Louis-Hector Berlioz died. In the same year, the opera "Faust" by Charles Gounodwas first performed in Paris. 1874 - The Austro-Hungarian composer, Arnold Schnberg and the American composer,Charles Ives, were born. 1875 - The opera "Carmen" by Georges Bizet was first performed in Paris. He would also pass away that year. 1876 - Edvard Grieg wrote the incidental music for Ibsen's "Peer Gynt." 1877 - "Requiem" by Gabriel Faur was first performed in Paris. That same year, Thomas Edison patented the phonograph which will change the way people listened to music. Also, "Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky, was first performed in Moscow. 1881 - One of the major 20th century composers, Bla Bartk, was born. 1882 - The Russian composer, Igor Stravinsky, was born. That same year, Hugo Riemann published his Musiklexikon; a study on musical harmony. 1883 - The Metropolitan Opera Association opened in New York and Richard Wagner died after completing his final work "Parsifal." 1886 - Franz Liszt died and in Vienna, "Te Deum" by Anton Bruckner was first performed. 1889 - The famous cabaret, "Moulin Rouge," opened in Paris. 1891 - Carnegie Hall opened in New York City. 1897 - Johannes Brahms died and Gustav Mahler became director of the Vienna Art Opera. 1899 - Scott Joplin published his Maple Leaf Rag. 1900 - Giacomo Puccini's opera, "Tosca," premiered in Rome.

Music of the Romantic Period Early Romanticism Beethoven and Romanticism

Ludwig van Beethoven - Contributed to the composer's shift in status from merely a servant of the wealthy to an artist. Wrote choral, chamber music and opera. Briefly studied under Haydn, was also influenced by the works

of Mozart. He used dissonance in his music which intrigued his listeners. Beethoven began to lose his hearing at age 28, losing it completely by age 50. One of his most popular works is the Ninth Symphony. He influenced a new crop of young composers guided by the ideals of Romanticism. What is Romanticism? Romanticism or the Romantic movement was a concept that encompassed different art mediums; from music to painting to literature. The Romantics believed in allowing their imagination and passion to soar spontaneously and interpret it through their works. This was different from the Classical belief of logical order and clarity. During the 19th century, Vienna and Paris were the centers of musical activity. Music Forms/Styles

Program music - An instrumental music which relays ideas or narrates a story. Berlioz' Fantastic Symphony is an example of this. Character pieces - A short piece for the piano that depicts a single emotion, often in ABA form.

Musical Instrument The piano was still the main instrument during the Early Romantic period. The piano underwent many changes and composers brought the piano to new heights of creative expression. Notable Composers/Musicians

Franz Schubert - Wrote about 600 lieders (German songs). One of his most famous pieces is titled Unfinished named so because it only has 2 movements. Hector Berlioz - His Fantastic Symphony was written for a stage actress he fell in love with. Included the harp and English horn in his symphonies. Franz Liszt - His Fantastic Symphony was inspired by one of Berlioz' works. Developed the symphonic poem; making use of chromatic devices. Frederic Chopin - Wrote character pieces for solo piano. Robert Schumann - Also wrote character pieces; some of his works were performed byClara, his wife. Giuseppe Verdi - Wrote many operas with patriotic themes. Two of his most famous works are Otello and Falstaff.

Nationalism in Music During the 19th century, Germany was also a center of musical activity. By the mid19th century however, music themes shifted to folklore and folk music became a style that influenced composers. This nationalist theme can be felt in the music of Russia, eastern Europe and Scandinavian countries. The Mighty Handful This term, also known as "the mighty five," is used to distinguish the 5 Russian nationalist composers of the 19th century. They include Balakirev, Borodin,Cui, Mussogrsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Other Music Forms/Styles

Verismo - A style of Italian opera wherein the story reflects daily life but with emphasis on intense, sometimes violent, actions and emotions. This style is particularly evident in the works of Giacomo Puccini. Symbolism - A concept introduced by Sigmund Freud that influenced various art mediums. This attempt to convey a composer's personal struggles in a symbolic manner can be felt in the works of Gustav Mahler.

Notable Composers

Richard Wagner - He was influenced by the works of Beethoven and Liszt. Started composing operas at age 20; he coined the term "music dramas." Wagner took the opera to a different level by making use of larger orchestras and applying musical themes to his work. He called these musical themes leitmotiv or leading motive. One of his famous work isThe Ring of the Nibelung. Johannes Brahms - He was also influenced by the works of Beethoven. He wrote what is called as "abstract music." Brahms wrote character pieces for the piano, lieders, quartets,sonatas and symphonies. He was a friend of Robert and Clara Schumann. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - He wrote concertos, symphonic poems and symphonies. Known for his expressive music. Antonin Dvorak - His Symphony No. 9, from The New World was influenced by his stay in America during the 1890s. Edvard Grieg - Norwegian composer who drew upon the national folklore of his beloved country as basis for his music.

Richard Strauss - He was influenced by the works of Wagner. Wrote symphonic poems and operas; known for the lavish, sometimes shocking scenes in his operas.

20th Century Music during the 20th century brought about many innovations on how music was performed and appreciated. Artists were more willing to experiment on new music forms and used technology to enhance their compositions.

Music of the 20th Century - Part 1 1900 - 1960

1900 - In Helsinki, Jean Sibelius' Finlandia premiered and in Rome, Giacomo Puccini's operaTosca premiered. 1901 - In Munich, Gustav Mahler's Fourth Symphony debuts. 1902 - In London, Enrico Caruso's debut singing in Rigoletto. That same year, Claude DeBussy introduced the concept of impressionism through his work Pellas and Mlisande at the Opra Comique in Paris. 1903 - Pope Pius X helped restore the importance ofGregorian Chant in the Catholic church. 1904 - The London Symphony Orchestra was founded. 1906 - Interest on the music of central Europe was sparked by the publication of a book calledHungarian Folk Songs by Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly. 1908 - Arnold Schoenberg published Book of Hanging Gardens which introduced the concept of dissonance. 1909 - Arnold Schoenberg composed his atonal works Opus 11, No. 1, and Five Orchestral Pieces, Opus 16. 1910 - Igor Stravinsky finished his work The Firebird. 1911 - In Dresden, Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier premiered. 1913 - At the Thtre des Champs lyses, a riot ensued during the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. 1914 - The Irish composer Victor Herbert helped to establish the American Society of Composers, Arrangers, and Producers (ASCAP). 1916 - Charles Ives completed his Fourth Symphony. 1918 - In Riga, the Latvian National Opera was founded. 1919 - Chicago was jazz capital and Arnold Schoenberg introduced the concept of serialism; a composition where a melodic line is repeated. 1921 - Arnold Schoenberg composed his Piano Suite, Opus 25 which was his first 12-tone work. 1922 - The British Broadcasting Corporation was established. 1924 - In New York, Julliard School opened andGeorge Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premiered. In Paris, Maurice Ravel's Bolero opened.

1925 - In Berlin, Alban Berg's Wozzeck premiered. In Nashville, Tennessee. the Grand Ole Opry was founded. 1928 - In Berlin, Die Dreigroschenoper by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill premiered. 1931 - Billie Holiday's stature as jazz singer was established. 1934 - In Lenox, Massachusetts, the Berkshire Music Festival began. 1935 - Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald starts her career with the Chick Webb orchestra. 1936 - The debut of electric guitars. 1937 - In Basel, Bela Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta premiered and in New York, the Glenn Miller Band debuts. 1938 - Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber premiered. 1939 - The Nat King Cole Trio was formed. Charles Parker moved to New York and performed with Dizzy Gillespie and other jazz musicians. 1940 - Frank Sinatra established himself as a solo performer. 1942 - The release of Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." 1944 - Premiere of Appalachian Spring, a ballet by Aaron Copland. Also, Dizzy Gillespie founded the "bop" orchestra. In London, Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes premiered. 1946 - Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein worked on an opera about women's suffrage called Louisiana Story. 1947 - Louis Armstrong formed his All Stars jazz ensemble. Also, Oklahoma by Rodgers and Hammerstein opened in Broadway. 1948 - The 33 1/3 LP, or commonly known as long-playing album, was introduced by Columbia Records. Also, Charlie Parker experimented with "bebop" and Bill Monroe invented bluegrass music. 1949 - Mahalia Jackson won in the French Academy's Grand Prix du Disc. 1951 - String Quartet #1 by Elliot Carter was first performed and NBC hires Gian Carlo Menotti to write Amahl and the Night Visitors, the first opera for television. 1953 - Stockhausen composed Karlheinz Stockhausen's Elektronische Studie I, the first composition using sine wave sounds. 1954 - Bill Haley and the Comets venture into the rock n' roll music form. 1956 - Elvis Presley establishes himself as the icon of rock n' roll. 1957 - In New York, West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein premiered. Also, Johnny Cash established his stature as country music artist. 1959 - Grammy Awards was sponsored by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences with Frank Sinatra winning Best Album for "Come Dance with Me." In London, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields was founded by Neville Marriner. Also, Berry Gordy, Jr. founded the Motown Recording Corporation. 1960 - John Coltrane, with his newly formed quartet, fans the flames of the New Wave movement.

Music of the 20th Century - Part 2 1961 to 1999

1961 - Milton Babbitt published his Composition for Synthesizer. 1962 - The album Please Please Me by the Beatles was released in the UK. 1963 - The first solo album of Barbra Streisand was released. 1964 - Bob Dylan's popularity increased and John Coltrane released his album A Love Supreme. 1965 - In Washington, D.C., the National Endowment for the Arts was founded. 1967 - Aretha Franklin was hailed as "Queen of Soul" and the Beatles released their album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. That same year, Jimi Hendrix released his album Are You Experienced?. 1969 - At La Scala in Milan, the tenor great Plcido Domingo made his debut. In Bethel, N.Y., millions flocked to watch the Woodstock music festival. Also, opera singer Jessye Norman debuts as Elisabeth inRichard Wagner's Tannhuser. 1970 - The Beatles disbanded. 1971 -Soprano Kiri Te Kanawa shone on stage as Countess in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro. In Paris, Jim Morrison died. Also, Duke Ellington was elected to the Royal Music Academy. 1973 - The album Catch a Fire by Bob Marley introduced reggae to America and Europe. 1974 - The single Hey Joe by Patti Smith was released, introducing the punk rock music style. 1975 - The opera Einstein on the Beach by Philip Glass premiered; an example of minimalist composition. 1977 - Elvis Presley died. 1978 - Sony unveils the Walkman. 1980 - The compact disc first appeared and in New York City, John Lennon was killed. 1981 - MTV made its TV debut. 1982 - Michael Jackson released "Thriller." 1984 - To raise funds for the children of Africa, Band Aid released their song "Do They Know It's Christmas." 1985 - Madonna goes on her "Virgin Tour." 1987 - The term "world music" was coined to describe eclectic music. 1990 - The Grammy's revoked Milli Vanilli's award. 1991 - The album Ten by grunge rock band Pearl Jam was released. Also, Nirvana released their song "Smells Like Teen Spirit." That same year, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston topped the charts.

1993 - Symphony No. 3: Symphony of Sorrowful Songs by Henryk Gorecki was a success. 1995 - In Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum opened and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead passed away. 1997 - The all-girl group Spice Girls were a hit. Also, Sarah McLachlan founded Lilith Fair. 1998 - Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire premiered at the San Francisco Opera. Also, Frank Sinatra died of a heart attack. 1999 - Lauryn Hill won five Grammy Awards, Universal and Polygram merged and Latin music was made popular by artists like Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez. Also, the tenor great Andrea Bocelli topped the charts with his album Sogno

Music of the 20th Century Early 20th Century Music Forms/Styles

Impressionistic - A term derived from one of Monet's works - Impression, Sunrise. In music it is applied to works of early 20th century composers such as Debussy. Debussy rejected the rules of tonality and created music that is pleasing to the ears as impressionist paintings are appealing to the eyes. This resulted in music that was relaxed, almost dreamlike. 12-tone System - A term mainly attributed to Arnold Schoenberg. Schoenberg wanted to eliminate the tonal center and developed a technique called 12-tone system wherein all the 12 notes of the octave are of equal importance. The 12 notes are placed in a specific order called a "tone-row" or "tone-series," and no note is repeated within a row. This evoked music that felt anxious and unresolved. Neoclassical - A term applied to the music of early 20th century composers like Stravinsky which reflects 18th century music. Stravinsky's works, particularly after the highly acclaimed The Rite of Spring, did not emphasize tonality but felt restrained. Stravinsky was discovered by Sergei Diaghilev, the producer of the Ballet Rouse. His earlier works reflected influences from Debussy,;/qt/dissonance.htm]dissonance and irregular rhythmic patterns.

Notable Composers/Musicians

Alban Berg - Austrian composer who adapted the atonal style, also referred to as the classicist of modern music. Anton von Webern - Austrian composer belonging to the 12-tone Viennese school. Jean Sibelius- Finnish composer, conductor and teacher especially known for his orchestral works and symphonies. Edward Elgar - English composer, who, according to Richard Strauss, was the "first English progressive musician". Ralph Vaughan Williams - English composer of nationalistic music. Bela Bartok - Hungarian composer and renowned ethnomusicologist. Ernest Bloch - Swiss composer of spiritual music. Charles Ives - The first known composer of polytonal pieces.

Music of the 20th Century Up to the 80's Prior to and after World War 2, the United States became a center of musical activity. Many composers from Europe moved to the US, some of them even became faculty members. Music Forms/Styles

Jazz - Jazz can be traced back to earlier African-American music styles. Jazz music is particularly notable for its improvisation, harmonic progressions and syncopated (modified) rhythms. Concert Music - Many composers combined jazz music elements with other music styles such as classical and blues. Music during this time also spoke of nationalistic fervor. Some of the composers whose works were greatly appreciated were George Gershwin (Rhapsody in Blue), Aaron Copland(Rodeo) and Dmitry Shostakovich (The Golden Age). Serialism - Based on Schoenberg's 12-tone system which was continued by his student Anton von Webern. Mostly evident in the music of the 1950s and 60s but appreciation was limited to university professors and their students. Serialism used a strict musical formula that was difficult to play. Composers who used this technique were Milton Babbitt and Pierre Boulez, to name a few.

Chance Music - Also called aleatoric or indeterminancy. A technique popularized by John Cage wherein the composer gives the musician the freedom to interpret his music. Electronic Music - Composers experimented with technology and how it affects certain aspects of music such as melody and rhythm. New Romanticism - A movement that began in eastern Europe. It is the desire for music that was expressive, haunting and mysterious, much like the music of the past. Composers who used this technique were George Crumb (Ancient Voices of Children) and Gyorgy Ligeti(Lux Aeterna), among others. Minimalism - Music that was simple, featured patterns that were repeated and supported by a steady beat. The music of Steve Reich and Philip Glass were labeled as such.

Notable Composers/Musicians

Edgard Varese - One of the composers who experimented with music and technology. He wrote a piece for an orchestra composed of solely percussion instruments. Also experimented in taped music and electronic instruments. Henry Cowell - American composer, one of the inventors of an electrical instrument called "rhythmicon." Wrote pieces wherein the musicians played the keys of a piano by striking it with their forearms or wrists and strumming or plucking the strings. John Cage - American composer of the 20th century known for his innovative, avant-garde ideas of creating and appreciating music. He devised the "prepared piano."

20th Century Composers During the 20th century there were many innovations on how music was, created, performed and appreciated. Composers were more willing to experiment on new music forms and used technology to enhance their compositions. To learn more about the music of this period, check out these profiles of 20th century composers. 1. Samuel Barber An American composer and songwriter of the 20th century whose works reflected European Romantic tradition. Some of his famous compositions are "Adagio for Strings" and "Dover Beach."

2. Bela Bartok

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons A teacher, composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist. His mother was his first piano teacher; he studied at the Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest. Among his famous works are "Kossuth," "Duke Bluebeard's Castle," "The Wooden Prince" and "Cantata Profana." 3. Alban Berg An Austrian composer and teacher who adapted the atonal style. He was a student of Arnold Schoenberg; his early works reflected Schoenberg's influence. However, Berg's originality and creativity became more evident in his later works, especially in his two operas: ""Lulu" and "Wozzeck." 4. Luciano Berio Italian composer, conductor, theorist and educator known for his innovative style. He is also instrumental in the growth of electronic music. Berio wrote instrumental and vocal pieces,operas, orchestral works and other compositions using traditional and modern techniques. His major works include "Epifanie," "Sinfonia" and the "Sequenza series." "Sequenza III" was written by Berio for his wife, the actress/singer Cathy Berberian. 5. Leonard Bernstein An American composer of classical and popular music, a music educator, conductor, songwriter and pianist. He studied at two of the finest educational institutions in the U.S.; namely Harvard University and Curtis Institute of Music. Bernstein became the musical director and conductor of the New York Philharmonic and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. One of his most famous work is the musical "West Side Story." 6. Ernest Bloch Ernest Bloch was an American composer and professor during the early part of the 20th century. He became music director of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory; he also taught at the Geneva Conservatory as well as the University of California at Berkeley. 7. Benjamin Britten A conductor, pianist and a major English composer of the 20th century who was instrumental in establishing the Aldeburgh Festival in England. The original venue

of the said festival was at Aldeburgh's Jubilee Hall. Eventually, the venue was moved to a building that once was a malthouse at Snape, but through the efforts of Britten, was renovated into a concert hall. Among his major works are "Peter Grimes," "Death in Venice" and ""A Midsummer Night's Dream." 8. Ferruccio Busoni Italian/German composer and concert pianist of the 20th century. Aside from his operas and compositions for the piano, Busoni edited the works of other composers including Bach,Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt. His last opera, "Doktor Faust," was left unfinished but was later completed by one of his students. 9. John Cage American composer of the 20th century known for his innovative, avant-garde ideas of creating and appreciating music. Many consider him a genius, though there are those who think otherwise. One of his most famous work is 4'33"; a piece where the performer is expected to remain silent for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. 10. Teresa Carreo Teresa Carreo was a celebrated concert pianist who influenced a crop of young pianists and composers during her time. Aside from being a pianist, she was also a composer, conductor and a mezzo-soprano. In 1876, Carreo made her debut as an opera singer in New York City. 11. Elliott Carter Elliot Cook Carter, Jr. is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer. He became music director of Lincoln Kirstein's Ballet Caravan in 1935. He also taught at prestigious educational institutions such as the Peabody Conservatory, Juilliard School and Yale University. Innovative and prolific, he is known for his use of metric modulation or tempo modulation. Carter celebrated his 100th birthday in 2008 at New York's Carnegie Hall and continues to actively compose. 12. Carlos Chavez Carlos Antonio de Padua Chavez y Ramirez was a teacher, lecturer, author, composer, conductor and music director of several music organizations in Mexico. He is known for his use of traditional folk songs, indigenous themes and instruments combined with modern techniques. 13. Aaron Copland

Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons

Influential American composer, conductor, writer and teacher of the 20th century who helped bring American music to the forefront. Copland wrote the ballet "Billy the Kid" and "Rodeo" which were both based on American folk stories. He also wrote film scores based on John Steinbeck's novels, namely "Of Mice and Men" and "The Red Pony." 14. Manuel de Falla Manuel Mara de los Dolores Falla y Matheu was a leading Spanish composer of the 20th century. During his early years, he went on tour as pianist of a theater company and later, as a member of a trio. He was a member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Granada and in 1925, became a member of the Hispanic Society of America. 15. Frederick Delius Prolific English composer of choral and orchestral music who helped revive English music during the late 19th century to the 1930s. Although he was born in Yorkshire, he spent most of his life in France. Some of his notable works include "Brigg Fair," "Sea Drift," "Appalachia" and "A Village Romeo and Juliet." There is a film titled "Song of Summer" which was based on a memoir ("Delius as I knew him") written by Eric Fenby; Delius' assistant. The said film was directed by Ken Russell and aired in 1968. 16. Duke Ellington One of the leading jazz figures during his time, Duke Ellington was a composer, bandleader and jazz pianist who was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 1999. 17. George Gershwin One of the prominent composers and songwriters of the 20th century. He composed scores for Broadway musicals and wrote some of the most memorable songs of our time, including "I've Got a Crush on You," "I Got Rhythm" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." 18. Dizzy Gillespie

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Jazz trumpeter known for his trademark puffed cheeks while playing the trumpet. He earned the nickname "Dizzy" due to his amusing antics onstage but his music is certainly not a laughing 19. Percy Grainger Australian composer, conductor, pianist and avid collector of folk music. He moved to the U.S.A. in 1914 and eventually became a U.S. citizen. Much of his compositions were influenced by English folk music. His major works include "Country Gardens," "Molly on the Shore" and "Handel in the Strand." 20. Paul Hindemith Music theorist, teacher and prolific composer of the 20th century. He was also a leading advocate of Gebrauchsmusik or "utility music"; music that is meant to be performed by amateur or non professional musicians.

21. Gustav Holst British composer and influential music educator of the 20th century. He is particularly known for his orchestral pieces and stage works. His most famous work is "The Planets," an orchestral suite consisting of seven movements, each named after a planet and their respective character in Roman mythology. It starts off with the spine-tingling "Mars, the Bringer of War" and ends with "Neptune, the Mystic." 22. Charles Ives Innovative composer of the 20th century and is considered the first major composer from America. His works, which includes piano music and orchestral pieces, were often based on American themes. Aside from composing, Ives also ran a successful insurance agency. 23. Leo Jancek Czech composer of the 20th century who supported the nationalist tradition in music. He is primarily known for his operas, particularly "Jenfa," a tragic story of a peasant girl. The said opera was completed in 1903 and performed the following year in Brno; Moravia's capital. 24. Scott Joplin

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Referred to as the "father of ragtime," Joplin is known for his classic rags for the piano such as "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer." 25. Zoltan Kodaly Zoltan Kodaly was born in Hungary and learned how to play the violin, piano and cello without formal schooling. He went on to write music and became close friends with Bartk. He received his PhD and gained critical praise for his works, especially music that was meant for children. He composed a lot of music, put on concerts with young musicians, wrote many articles and conducted lectures. 26. Gyorgy Ligeti One of the prominent Hungarian composers of the post-war period who developed a music style called "micropolyphony." One of his major compositions wherein he used this technique is in "Atmosphres." The said composition was featured in the 1968 movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" directed by Stanley Kubrick. 27. Witold Lutoslawski

Photo by W. Pniewski and L. Kowalski from Wikimedia Commons Major Polish composer of the 20th century particularly notable for his orchestral works. He attended the Warsaw Conservatory where he studied composition and music theory. Among his famous works are "The Symphonic Variations," "Variations on a Theme of Paganini" and "Funeral Music" which he dedicated to the Hungarian composer Bla Bartk. 28. Henry Mancini American composer, arranger and conductor especially noted for his television and film scores. In all he won 20 Grammys, 4 Academy Awards and 2 Emmys. He wrote scores for over 80 films including "Breakfast at Tiffany's." The Henry Mancini Award , named after him by ASCAP, is given each year for outstanding achievements in film and television music. 29. Gian Carlo Menotti Italian composer, librettist and stage director who established the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. The said festival honors musical works from Europe and America. At the young age of 11, Menotti already wrote two operas, namely "The

Death of Pierrot" and "The Little Mermaid,." His "Le dernier sauvage" was the first opera by a non-Frenchman commissioned by the Paris Opera. 30. Olivier Messiaen French composer, educator and organist of the 20th century whose works influenced other notable names in music like Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Among his major compositions are "Quatuor pour la fin du temps," "Saint Francois d' Assise" and "Turangalla-Symphonie."

31. Darius Milhaud Darius Milhaud was a prolific French composer and violinist who further developed polytonality. He was part of Les Six; a term coined by the critic Henri Collet pertaining to a group of young French composers of the 20th century. 32. Carl Nielsen One of Denmark's pride. He was a 20th century composer, conductor and violinist primarily known for his symphonies, among them are "Symphony No. 2" (The Four Temperaments), "Symphony No. 3" (Sinfonia Espansiva) and "Symphony No. 4" (The Inextinguishable). 33. Carl Orff Carl Orff was a German composer who developed a method of teaching children about the elements of music. The Orff Method or Orff Approach is still widely used in many schools to this day. 34. Francis Poulenc One of the important French composers after World War 1 and member of "Les Six;" a title given by the critic Henri Collet to a group of young composers whose works were influenced by Erik Satie. He wrote concertos, sacred music, piano music and other stage works. His notabe compositions include "Mass in G Major" and "Les biches," which was commissioned by Diaghilev. 35. Sergey Prokofiev Russian composer of the 20th century. One of his well-known works is "Peter and the Wolf" which he wrote in 1936 and was meant for a children's theater in Moscow. Both the story and the music was written by Prokofiev; it is a great children's introduction to music and the instruments of the orchestra. In the story, each character is represented by a particular musical instrument.

36. Maurice Ravel French composer known for his craftsmanship in music. He was very reclusive and never married. His notable works include "Bolro," "Daphnis et Chlo" and "Pavane pour une infante dfunte." 37. Silvestre Revueltas Silvestre Revueltas was a teacher, violinist, conductor and composer who, along with Carlos Chavez, helped promote Mexican music. He taught at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City and was the assistant conductor of the Mexico Symphony Orchestra. 38. Richard Rodgers His collaborations with brilliant lyricists like Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II remains a favorite by many. During the 1930s, Richard Rodgers composed several hit songs such as "Isn't It Romantic," from the 1932 film Love Me Tonight, "My Funny Valentine," which was written in 1937 and "Where or When," which was performed by Ray Heatherton in the 39. Erik Satie French pianist and composer of the 20th century particularly known for his piano music. His works, such as the soothing "Gymnopedie No. 1," remains very popular to this day. Satie has been described as eccentric and is said to have become a recluse later in his life. 40. Arnold Schoenberg

Photo by Florence Homolka from Wikimedia Commons The "12-tone System" is a term mainly attributed to Schoenberg. He wanted to eliminate the tonal center and developed a technique wherein all the 12 notes of the octave are of equal importance.

41. Aleksandr Scriabin Russian composer and pianist of the 20th century most known for his symphonies and piano music that were influenced by mysticism and philosophical ideas. His works include the "Piano Concerto," "Symphony No. 1," "Symphony No. 3," "Poem of Ecstasy" and "Prometheus."

42. Dmitry Shostakovich 20th century Russian composer especially noted for his symphonies and string quartets. Sadly, he was one of the great composers from Russia who was artistically stifled during the reign of Stalin. His "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" initially received acceptance but was later denounced due to Stalin's disapproval of the said opera. 43. Karlheinz Stockhausen Karlheinz Stockhausen was an influential and innovative German composer and educator of the 20th and early 21st century. He was the first to compose music from sine-wave sounds. Stockhausen experimented with tape recorders and electronic instruments. 44. Igor Stravinsky Image from the Library of Congress Russian composer of the 20th century who introduced the concept of modernism in music. His father, who was one of the foremost Russian operatic basses, was one of Stravinsky's main influences. Stravinsky was discovered by Sergei Diaghilev, the producer of the Ballet Rouse. Some of his famous works are "The Firebird," "The Rite of Spring" and "Oedipus Rex." 45. Germaine Tailleferre Germaine Tailleferre was one of the foremost French composers of the 20th century and the only female member of Les Six; a title given by the critic Henri Collet to a group of young composers during the 1920s. 46. Michael Tippett Conductor, music director and one of the leading British composers of the 20th century. He wrote string quartets, symphonies and operas, including "The Midsummer Marriage" which was produced in 1952. Tippett was knighted in 1966. 47. Edgard Varese Edgard Varse was one of the composers of the 20th century who experimented with music and technology. Among his compositions is "Ionisation," a piece for orchestra composed of solely percussion instruments. Varese also experimented in taped music and electronic instruments. 48. Heitor Villa-Lobos Prolific Brazilian composer, conductor, music educator and advocate of Brazilian music. He wrote choral and chamber music, instrumental and orchestral pieces, vocal works and piano music. Villa-Lobos wrote more than 2,000 compositions,

including "Bachianas Brasilieras" which was inspired by Bach, and "Concerto for Guitar." His etudes and preludes for the guitar remain popular to this day. 49. William Walton English composer of the 20th century who wrote orchestral music, film scores, vocal music,operas and other stage works. His notable works include "Faade," "Belshazzars Feast" and the impressive coronation march, "Crown Imperial." Walton was knighted in 1951. 50. Anton Webern Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons Austrian composer, conductor and arranger belonging to the 12-tone Viennese school. Some of his notable works are "Passacaglia, op. 1," "Im Sommerwind" and "Entflieht auf leichten Khnen, Opus 2." 51. Kurt Weill German composer of the 20th century known for his collaborations with writer Bertolt Brecht. He wrote operas, cantata, music for plays, concert music, film and radio scores. His major works include "Mahagonny," "Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny" and "Die Dreigroschenoper." The song "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" from "Die Dreigroschenoper" became a huge hit and remains popular to this day. 52. Ralph Vaughan Williams British composer of the 20th century who championed nationalism in English music. He wrote various stage works, symphonies, songs, vocal and chamber music. He collected English folk songs and these greatly influenced his compositions.