Developed the CANÇONS and form of courtly love poetry
Important works: Can vei la lauzeta mover
Guirau De Bornelh (1138-1215)
1138 - 1215
Considered a "Master of the Troubadours"
Perfected trobar leu, or light style
90 poems and 4 melodies survive
Leonin
1150 - 1201
Earliest known composer of polyphonic organum
Member of the Notre Dame School and ars antigua style
Named by the Anonyomous IV as the author of the "Magnus Libra"
Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170 – c. 1230)
1170 - 1230
Minnesinger in Northern Germany
Poetry written in the High German Tradition and full of political commentary.
Still has an influence on German poetry.
Pérotin (fl. c. 1200)
1200 - 1250
Master of the Notre Dame School and ars antiqua style
primarily a composer of organum. He was the first composer of organum triplum and organum quadruplum.
Sederunt principes and Viderunt Omnes are some of his most famous works (organum quadruplum)
Franco de Cologne (fl. mid-13th Century)
1250 - 1300
German music theorist and composer
Developed the first style of permanent musical notation
Famous for Franconian motets in which rhythm is developed further from the rhythmic modes and text is in multiple languages ( Amours mi font/En mai/Flos filius eius)
Phillippe de Vitry (1291-1361)
1291 - 1361
Composer and theorist
Most famous for his Ars Nova Treatise on music
Developed the isorhythm and iso-rhythmic motet
Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
1300 - 1377
Composer and poet of the Ars Nova tradition
developed the motet, secular songs forms and the "formes fixes"
"Messe di Notre Dame" is the earliest known setting of the ordinary of the Mass by one composer.
Jacobus De Bononia (fl. 1340-c. 1386)
1340 - 1386
Italian composer of the "Trecento," or the italian Ars Nova
Mainly wrote madrigals (canonic and non-canonic)
Wrote to Petrach's poetry: Non al suo amante
François Andrieu (fl. late 1300's)
1370 - 1420
Johannes Ciconia (1370-1412)
1370 - 1412
A composer of a variety of styles including ars nova, ars subillitor, and Renaissance (a crossover composer)
Wrote secular and sacred music including motets, madrigals, formes fixes, Masses, and iso-rhythmic motets.
Important in the development of the Burgundian School (although English)
Began the development of triadic harmony and had an affinity for the interval of a third (was exposed to the fauxboudon style and adopted some of it's characteristics such as use of 3rds and 6ths).
Representative works: Veni creator spiritus, 3 Magnificats, Missa Rex seculorum (Mass with a cantus firmus melody)
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Guillaume DuFay (1397-1474)
1397 - 1474
Important composer in the Burgundian School
Wrote in all forms of the time: Madrigals, motets, chanson, magnificats, hymns, fauxbourdon style chants
Most music was for liturgical use: Missa se la face ay pale and Missa L'Homme armé are famous mass settings.
Gilles Binchois (1400-1460)
1400 - 1460
One of the foremost composers of the Burgundian Schools (with Dunstable and Du Fay)
Considered a great melodiest and his songs are simple and clear.
Most of his secular songs are in rondeaux form and talk of courtly love, and chivalry. They are not often strophic because the rhythmic scheme is often varied.
Nove cantum melodie (motet)
Johannes Ockeghem (1410/25-1497)
1410 - 1497
A composer in the period between the Burgundian Composers and Des Prez
Wrote 14 masses, motets and chansons.
He uses the cantus firmus technique in many of his works. Also famous for wide leaps and low vocal ranges
Missa prolationum, Missa cuiusvis toni
Antoine Busnois (1430-1492)
1430 - 1492
Burgundian Composer who became a leader in the style after the death of du Fay.
Famous composer of secular chanson (most are rondeaux), motets and sacred music
uses a little imitation, singable melodies and triadic sonorities
L'homme armé
Josquin des Prez (1450/55-1521 )
1450 - 1521
One of the greatest masters of the Renaissance.
Wrote in all of the standard vocal genres of the time: Masses, motets, chansons
Stylistic characteristics: points of imitation, early works are more ornamented, free and flowing lines within a polyphonic work, and clear setting of the text.
at least 18 full masses, hundreds of motets and chansons
Clément Janequin (1485-1558)
1485 - 1558
A prolific composers responsible for the popular chanson and the development of the Parisian chanson. Wrote only 2 masses and a motet, but 250 chanson.
Programmatic chansons: long, sectional pieces with imitation of man-made sounds
Famous works: La bataille, La chasse, Le chant des oiseaux
Claudin de Sermisy
1490 - 1562
Renowned composer of French chanson and liturgical music for voices
Sacred Music: 12 complete masses (including a Requiem), 100 motets, Magnificats, and Lamentations. (Clear textures with alternating polyphonic and homophonic phrases. Short phrases and chordal passages)
Secular Music: 175 chansons (chordal, syllabic, graceful, dance-like quick repeated notes. Most are 4 voice texture).
Arnold von Bruck (1500-1554)
1500 - 1554
Famous in the German speaking countries and Hapsburg court.
All works are vocal: Magnificats, Chorales, Sacred and secular German songs
Sacred words in Latin (Te Deum, DIes Irae)
Textures are more in the style of Josquin - imitation, thinner textures, less ornamentation
Jacque Aracadelt (1507-1568)
1507 - 1568
Composer of Madrigals and chanson (all vocal)
One of the earliest madrigal writers: usually 4 voice but ranged 3-6, simple in structure, singable, diatonic, syllabic and through-composed
Chanson: strophic, singable, syllabic
Sacred music - 3 masses, 24 motets, Magnificat, Lamentations
G.P. da Palestrina (1525-1594)
1525 - 1594
Composer of Sacred Music of the Roman School of Composition
Hundreds of compositions of sacred music to secular madrigals.
Famous works: Missa Papae Marcelli, Missa sine nomine
Style Characteristics: controlled dissonances on the weak beats, making a more consonant polyphony, lyrical lines with mostly stepwise motion, flowing musical lines
Orlando de Lassus (1530/32-1594)
1530 - 1594
Wrote over 2,000 vocal works in Latin, French, German, and Italian. Sacred and Secular works are included.
Masses: often imitation masses, Musica reservata (includes chromaticism and dramatic text setting)
His works often had humor, were lyrical, cyclic, and syllabic text setting
Andrea Gabrieli (1533-1585)
1533 - 1585
Venetian School of Composers: wrote solo vocal music, vocal ensemble music, purely instrumental music, and a combination of voices and instruments
Wrote antiphonal music, often changing the combination of voices and instruments in the texture
William Byrd (1539/40/43-1623)
1539 - 1623
Wrote sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard music, and instrumental music
Elevated keyboard music, especially the fantasia.
Madrigals were simple in style but distinctive with they polyphony and sometimes instrumental accompaniment.
Church music is mostly in Latin and a high level of complexity and thicker textures.
Tomás Luis Victoria (1548-1611)
1548 - 1611
Composer of exclusively sacred music
"master at overlapping and dividing choirs with multiple parts with a gradual decreasing of rhythmic distance throughout. Not only does Victoria incorporate intricate parts for the voices, but the organ is almost treated like a soloist in many of his choral pieces"
Style Characteristics: often homophonic texture, rhythmically creative, more free dissonance, use of Major 6ths and diminished 4ths, word-painting, and polychoral works
Most famous works: Officium Defunctorum, O vos omnes
Luca Marenzio (1553-1599)
1553 - 1599
Most famous for madrigals of the late Renaissance style
Madrigal style included chromaticism (including circle of 5ths and enharmonic spellings), word-painting, 2-6 voice texture, text driven melody, pastoral and love poem texts
Also wrote sacred motets, masses, and madrigali spirituali
Thomas Morely (1557/58-1602)
1557 - 1602
Member of the English Madrigal School
Madrigal style characteristics: quick moving, singable, emotional, often light hearted
Also wrote some sacred music, instrumental music, and keyboard music
Famous works: It was a lover and his lass, Now is the month of maying, My bonny lass she smileth
Carlo Gesualdo (1560-1613)
1560 - 1613
Composer of sacred and secular vocal works, especially madrigals, and instrumental music
Style Characteristics: extreme and surprising chromaticism, dramatic text setting of impassioned words, rhythmic contrast, Equal voice texture, text driven melodic settings, sectional format (slow-fast)
Late Renaissance/Early Baroque
Giulio Caccini (1551-1618)
1551 - 1618
One of the founders of the new Baroque style
First composer of opera and the stile recitativo style. Also wrote solo songs with basso continuo accompaniment, strophic songs, through-composed madrigals, in songs he often writes several ornamentation options.
Euridice (Opera), Le nuove musiche (collection of songs with basso continuo), Amarilli, mia bella
Giovanni Gabrieli (1554-1612)
1554 - 1612
One of the final composers of the Venetian school at the turn of the Renaissance/Baroque period.
Wrote mostly sacred vocal and instrumental music
Style Characteristics: written dynamics, notated instrumentation, instrument clusters arranged spacially, polychoral style, unusual combinations of instruments and singers arranged for accoustic purposes
Famous works: In Ecclesiis
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
1567 - 1643
Central figure in the movement from Renaissance to Baroque periods
Wrote Madrigals, Operas, and sacred church music
His early works employ Renaissance techniques such as polyphony, strict counterpoint, controlled dissonance, even voices
His later style includes monody with basso continuo, polarized soprano and bass, more free movement, words in control of the Harmony
Famous works: L'Orfeo, L'incoronazione di Poppea, Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda
Thomas Campion (1567-1620)
1567 - 1620
Composer of Lute songs, Masques, and Ayres
Music was composed for court entertainment and often had rhymeless verse.
Famous works: Book of Ayres
Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643)
1583 - 1643
Prominent composer of keyboard music, but also wrote for instrumental and vocal ensemble.
His style and form are not consistent between works, innovations in tempi and tempo notation, made many innovations in the form of variations
Famous works: Fiori musicali, Ricercari, et canzone/Toccate e partite
Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
1583 - 1625
English composers of Madrigals, keyboard works, chorale settings, and chamber music
Style characteristics: 3-4 voice polyphonic keyboard music, multi-sectional and multi-subject within a piece, dramatic development of simple musical ideas
Famous works: The silver Swan, Fairewell all joys, Fantasias, Pavane in D minor and Lord Salisbury's Pavan and Galliard
Baroque
Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
1571 - 1621
Composer of Early Baroque Church music (both Latin and German)
Famous works: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming), Terpsichore
Heinrich Schutz (1585-1672)
1585 - 1672
One of the most famous composers prior to Bach
Instrumental and vocal sacred music. Influenced by Gabrieli and Montiverdi
Style Characteristics: Poly choral style, modal and choral writing, contrapuntal motion of voices, intense dissonances although more tonal at the cadences, imitation, text driven
Famous works: Symphoniae sacrae, Kleine geistliche Konzerte,
Johann Schein (1586-1630)
1586 - 1630
German composer of the Italianate style of mostly vocal works
Wrote sacred and secular works alternately throughout his career.
Used italian characteristics of figured bass, concertando, and monody style. Text painting is vivid and songs vary widely from gentle devotional madrigals to baudy humorous songs.
Famous works: Banchetto musicale (book of instrumental suites - only one), Banchetto musicale
Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674)
1605 - 1674
A Master of the Roman School of Music
Prolific writing of motets, Latin oratorios, and cantatas. Developed the recitative and the solo cantata
Style Characterstics: development of variety of instrumental accopmaniments, recitative
Famous works: Jephte, Vittoria, mio core
Jean Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)
1632 - 1687
Master of the French Baroque Style - dance suites (passacaligias, chaccones), operas, motets
Style Charachertistics: basso continuo, lively fast movements, emotional slow movements, new balance of instruments including 5 voices of strings, harpsichord, organ, bassoon, oboe, recorder, brass and percussion. Began French overture style
Famous works: Armide,
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1634-1704)
1634 - 1704
French composers of oratorios, masses, dance suites, ballets, and sacred vocal works
Famous works: Te Deum, Médée
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
1653 - 1713
Important in the development of the concerto and sonata, as well as the importance of the violin
Was an important violinist and teacher, kept the range of the instrument smaller in his writings
Wrote trio sonatas, sonatas, and concerti grossi
Famous works: Twelve concerti grossi, Op. 6
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
1659 - 1695
Most famous English composer of mostly vocal works - choral and solo (sacred and secular)
Style Characteristics: wide vocal ranges, English language, ground bass,
Famous Works: Orpheus Britannicus, Dido and Aeneas, The Fairy Queen
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
1660 - 1725
Father of the Neopolitan School of Composition
Wrote operas, chamber cantatas, masses
Style Characteristics: fluxuating phrase lengths, purposeful modulation, recitative and aria alternating in operas, use of continuo or small chamber ensemble accompaniment, ternary and da capo form
Famous works: Il pompeo, Mitridate Eupatore, St. Cecilia's Mass
Francois Couperin (1668-1733)
1668 - 1733
French composer of mainly keyboard music
Wrote sonatas, keyboard suites, organ works
Style Characteristics: descriptive titles in French, virtuosic writing, suites are called ordres, distinct mood and key changes,
Famous works: Pièces de clavecin, Le Parnasse, ou L'apothéose de Corelli
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
1678 - 1741
Composer of operas, instrumental concerti, and sacred choral works
Style Characteristics: lively, bright and energetic, melodic with harmonic contrasts, rhythmic
Famous works: Le quattro stagioni, Gloria, L'estro armonico
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
1681 - 1767
One of the most prolific composers of all time and friends (and influenced by) with Bach and Handel
Sacred cantatas, suites, and instrumental cantatas (variety of instrumental pairings)
Music is straightforward yet harmonically complex, a composer of the galant style
Famous works:
Jean-Phillippe Rameau (1683-1761)
1683 - 1761
Leading composer of French Harpsichord music
Wrote suites, operas, cantatas, and motets
Style Characteristics: complex harmonies in old fashioned forms, imitative, virtuosity, recitative/aria combination
Famous Works: Hippolyte et Aricie, Pièces de clavecin en concert
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
1685 - 1757
Transitional figure between the Baroque and Classical period
Wrote many styles but is best known for keyboard sonatas
Style Characteristics: binary form, some early sonata form, mostly for harpsichord, modulations to unexpected keys, Phrysgian mode
Famous works:
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
1685 - 1759
German composer who spent most of his career in London
composed operas, oratorios, chorales, organ cantatas
Straightforward harmonic style, organized cadences, contrapuntal vocal and instrumental lines, Wrote in English, German, and Italian, Da Capo arias with recitatives, ornamentation
Famous works: Water Music, Messiah, Guilio Cesare
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
1685 - 1750
One of the most innovative composers of all time.
Wrote keyboard music, church music, oratorios, chorales
Style Characteristics: more complex orchestration and multiple melodies at one. Thick harmonies in lower octave below middle C (Couperin does this too). Planes of orchestration (mosaic of melody)
Famous Works: Well-tempered Klavier, Magnificat,
Classical
Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787)
1714 - 1787
Composer of operas, chamber music, keyboard music, orchestral music, ballets
Important in the development of the piano trio, string quartet, and symphony
Style Characteristics: use of simple and short musical motifs to develop a larger structure, formal construction, humor is incorporated, development of the exposition and recapitulation in relations to closely related keys and themes, Sturm und Drang, scoring includes timpani and trumpets
Famous works:
Carl Ditters von Ditersdorf (1739-1799)
1739 - 1799
Wrote opera buffe, singspiel, chamber music, symphonies, oratorios, cantatas, chamber music
Music is melodic yet not motivic,
Famous works: Doktor und Apotheker
Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816)
1740 - 1816
Primarily an opera composer but did compose chamber music and piano music'
Style Characteristics: Most works are vocally conceived with a level of dramatic intensity and timing,
Famous Works:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
1756 - 1791
Composer of all genres - instrumental and vocal
Style Characteristics: Sturm und Drang, Galant (early works), dynamic contrast, sudden change in tempo, pulsing rhythms and syncopation, development of harmonic material, independent instrumental sections, appogiaturas, singable melodies, Mannheim rocket theme, motivic treatment
Famous works:
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
1770 - 1827
Most forward thinking composer of the late classical period
Wrote in all forms including keyboard, instrumental, and vocal
Thicker textures, sf, extreme changes of dynamics, introduction of the mf and mp, two measure phrasing, extension and development of the V tonality, harmonic chromaticism and exploration of keys further away, two-three note groupings in phrases, motives
Famous works: 9th symphony, Sonata Op.2, Eroica Symphony, Fur Elise
Romantic
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864)
1791 - 1864
A German opera composer who excelled at writing for the stage
Style Characteristics: Italianate vocal composition, singable melodies, rich harmonic texture, dramatic cohesion is not always achieved as his writing focuses on teh voice not text
Famous works: Les Hugenots, Robert le diable
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
1797 - 1828
Early Romantic composer who wrote in most styles for piano, instruments, and voice.
Best known for his piano works, Lieder, and symphonies
Style Characteristics: predictable cadences, text painting with the keyboard accompaniments, strophic text settings, arpeggiated left hand movement, memorable melodies, original sense of modulation
Famous works: String Quintet (D. 956), Erlkonig, Sonata in A minor
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
1797 - 1848
Italian composer of the Bel Canto vocal style although he wrote smaller numbers of many other styles
Wrote over 70 operas and his most success came with the comic operas
Famous Works: L'elisir d'amore, Don Pasquale, Anna Bolena
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
1801 - 1835
Italian Bel Canto opera composer
Style Characteristics: long flowing melodic lines, excellent connection of music and text, relatively simple accopmaniment in support of long vocal lines, melodramatic
Norma, I capuletti e monitechi, I puritani,
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
1803 - 1869
A leading composer of the development of the Romantic tradition. Influenced greatly by Beethoven
Style Characteristics: large orchestra, uneven phrase lengths, beautiful melodies, programmatic symphonies, small chromatic motion
Famous works: Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts, Damnation of Faust
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
1809 - 1847
German romantic composer of symphonies, piano music, chamber music, Lieder, oratorios and concerti
Style Characteristics: conservative style, harmonically creative if not innovative,
Famous works: Lieder ohne Worte, Elijah, String Quartet No. 6,
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
1810 - 1849
Romantic composer of piano music
Style Characteristics: virtuosic, highly ornate, almost exclusive use of homophonic texture, embellished melody over rhythmically stable accompaniment, use of Pedal is develloped, folk like melodies and styles
Famous works:
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
1810 - 1856
Composer of piano works, symphonies, chamber works, Lieder,
Style Characteristics: Conservative style and harmonies, strophic Lieder, experimentation of harmony occurred later in his career
Famous works: Dichterlieder, Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra and the Violin Sonata No. 3,
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
1811 - 1886
Composer of piano music, song, chamber music, symphonic poems
Style Characteristics: Adventurous harmonic movement and chromaticism, full range of the keyboard use, extensive use of sequences, often bombastic, free form
Famous works: B Minor Sonata, Années de pèlerinage
Guiseppi Verdi (1813-1901)
1813 - 1901
Italian Opera Composer of the late bel canto era
Style Characteristics: more vocally dramatic and more variety than previous bel canto composers, large orchestra, sophisticated story telling, large choruses, lyrical melodies
Famous works: La Traviata, Rigoletto, Falstaff, Requiem
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
1813 - 1883
One of the most innovated and far reaching composers of all time
Style characteristics: enormous and thick orchestration, attention to texture and creative use of chromaticism, gesamptkunstwerk, synthesis of poetry, visual components, and music, leitmotifs, shifting tonality
Famous works: Tristan und Isolde, Ring cycle
Cesar Franck (1822-1890)
1822 - 1890
Composer of piano music, melodie, Symphonies, sonatas, chamber music
Style Characteristics: cyclic form, creative use of chromaticism, thematic approach to melody, modulation through pivot chords to harmonically distant keys
Famous works: Symphony in D Minor, Sonata in A major
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
1824 - 1896
Austrian composer of symphonies, masses, and motets
Style Characteristics: harmonically experimental, lengthy compositions, polyphonic works, remote key modulations, symphonies are in four movements, standard orchestra instrumentation.
Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)
1833 - 1887
Russian composer of symphonies, string quartets, and operas
Style Characteristics: rich harmonies, extreme lyricism, Russian flavor of lower voice texture, thick instrumentation, romantic wash of sound
Famous works: Prince Igor, Symphony no. 1
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
1833 - 1897
German composer of most styles both instrumental and vocal
Style Characteristics: lower sonorities, folk characteristics, classical form and structure, romantic harmonies with a rich chromatic bass.
Famous works: Pictures at an Exhibition, Night on Bald Mountain, Boris Gudonov
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
1841 - 1904
Czech composer of chamber music, symphonies, operas, and piano works
Style Characteristics: rhythmic dances, folk music qualities, rich harmonies, experimental harmonies, singable melodies, neoclassicist,
Famous works: Slavonic Dances, Rusulka, Symphony number 6
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
1843 - 1907
Norwegian composer of symphonies, sonatas, incidental music, piano music
Style Characteristics: norwegian folk music and rhythms,
Famous Works: Peter Gynt, Sonata in A minor
Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)
1845 - 1924
Composer of piano works, melodies, orchestra and chamber works
Style Characteristics: Early works are accessible, accompaniments are arpeggiated, later works are harmonically and rhythmically adventurous with thinner textures
Famous works: Pavane, Requiem, Clair de lune
Vincent D'Indy (1851-1931)
1851 - 1931
French composer of piano, vocal, chamber, and church music
Famous works: Sympnony on a French Mountain Air, Fervaal
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
1860 - 1911
Composer of Symphonies, Lieder,
Stylistic Characteristics: thick textures, enormous orchestras, large voices, folk quality melodies, different styles for different expressions
Famous works: Symphony No. 2 & 6, Kindertoten Lieder
Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)
1860 - 1903
Composer of Lieder
Style Characteristics: Text driven, melody is not prominent, through composed, extremely chromatic
Famous works: Moricke Lieder, Italian Lieder
20th Century
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
1862 - 1918
Composer of piano music, melodies, ballet, orchestra, chamber music
Style Characteristics: parallel motion, use of whole tone and pentatonic scale, irregular phrase length, unprepared modulations, pedal tone,
FAmous works: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Deux arabesques, Clair de lune
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
1873 - 1943
Composer of piano music, song, orchestra and chamber music,
Style Characteristics: Rich orchestra colors and textures, folk idioms, lyric melody, thick harmony and thorough use of the entire piano, widely spaced chords, motifs
Famous works: Piano Concerto No. 2, Symphony no. 1
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
1874 - 1951
German composer of some of the most innovative musical movements of all time in the second Viennese school - orchestra, voice, piano, chamber music
Stylistic characteristics: wide leaps, unusual rhythms, constant chromaticism, 12-tone, lack of melody, thinner texture, independent voices, sprechtstimme, wide dynamic range
Famous works: Erwartung, Pierrot lunaire
Charles Ives (1874-1954)
1874 - 1954
Composer of song, chamber works, orchestra works, and piano works
Style characteristics: traditional tonalities with polychords, polyrhythms, and tone clusters, use of American folk music and hymns (especially New England), small forms and irregular phrases
Famous works: The Circus Band, A symphony: New England Holiday
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
1875 - 1937
Composer of piano music, song, chamber works, ballets, operas
Style Characteristcis: periods of neo classicism, experimentation with impressionism and chromatic harmony, text driven music, influences of jazz, experimental musical form, repetition
Famous works: Boléro, Gaspard de la nuit
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
1876 - 1946
Composer of chamber music, piano music, zarzuela, song, ballet,
Style Characteristics: folk like melodies, dance rhythms, neo classism
El retablo de maese Pedro, siete populaires
Bela Bartok (1881-1945)
1881 - 1945
Composer of chamber music, opera, orchestra music, piano music
Famous Works: Eight Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Mikrokosmos
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
1882 - 1971
Composer of ballets, orchestra, chamber, piano, and vocal works
Style Characteristics: exotic chromatic harmony, melody harmonized by polychords, simple rhythms and textures that alternate homophonic and polyphonic sections, neo-classicism, serialism
Famous works: Petrushka, The Rite of Spring, The Firebird
Anton Webern (1883-1945)
1883 - 1945
Composer of chamber, orchestra, piano, and vocal works
Style Characteristics: short, dramatic musical gestures, no pitch or tonal center, no triads, disjunct melody with little step-wise motion, string techniques (mute, near the bridge...)
Famous works: Drei Volkstexte
Alban Berg (1885-1935)
1885 - 1935
composer of opera, Lieder, Symphonies, chamber music, piano music
Style Characteristics: 19th-century romantic period musical gestures with 20th-century harmonies, atonal, non-serial harmonies, dense chords with some triadic structure, full range of instrument, wide range of dynamics, lyrical melody
Famous works: Lulu, wozzeck, Piano sonata op. 1
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
1891 - 1953
Composer of ballets, chamber music, orchestra music, piano music, vocal music
Style Characteristics: Use of phrygian mode, parallelism, incomplete 7th chords, dance styles, classical phrase structure, use of hemiola's, neo-classical,
Famous works: Romeo and Juliet, Peter and the Wolf
Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
1892 - 1955
Composer of vocal music, orchestral and chamber works, operas, oratorios
Style Characteristics: text painting, diatonic melody, tonal center found by repetition, isolated gestures in accompaniment, parallelism, use of many scales including pentatonic, dorian, terian chords, quartal harmonies
Famous Works: Pacific 231
Darius Milhaud (1892-1974)
1892 - 1974
composer of melodies, piano, orchestra, chamber music, ballets, operas (one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century.
Style Characteristics: poly-tonality, jazz and braziliam music, sparce textures
Famous works:
Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963)
1895 - 1963
Composer of Lieder, opera, chamber music, symphonies, piano music
Style Characteristics: melody built on intervals of 4ths, sequences, two note-repeated motives, syncopation, ostinato
Famous works: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, Der Schwanendreher
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
1900 - 1990
Composer of all genres
Style Characteristics: folk melody, mostly disjunct melody, very angular, large range, modal, non-functional voice leading, two-note motives and simple accompaniments, open spaced chords and sonorities
Famous works: Appalacian Spring, Fanfaire for the Common Man, Billy the Kid
Composer of all genres and extremely influential in the 20th century
Style Characteristics: Pointillism, disjunct melody, lack of triads or tonality, no regular pulse, dynamic indication on each note, changing meter, varied rhythmic variations
Famous works: Le marteau sans maître, Pli selon pli and Répons
Morton Feldman (1926-1987)
1926 - 1987
Composer of indeterminate music
Style Characteristics: indeterminate regard to rhythm and duration, individual unrelated pitches, manuscript notation, unusual instrumental combinations.
Famous works:
Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007)
1928 - 2007
Composer of electronic music, spacialization, and serial composition
Style Characteristics: pointiliism, disjunct melody, lack of triad or diatonic harmony, no meter, dynamic indication on every note, varied rhythmic durations
Famous works: Klavierstücke
George Crumb (b. 1929)
1929 - Present
Composer of avant-garde style
Style Characteristics: unusual timbres, alternative forms of vocal and instrumental technique, alternative notation,
Krzysztof Penderecki (b. 1933)
1933 - Present
Composer of many musical styles, instrumental and vocal
Style Characteristics: dense textures, tone clusters, lack of melody, disjunct rhythms
Famous Works: Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, St. Luke Passion
