Music History Flashcards

Study Guide

Josquin des Prez

Renaissance, polyphonic, sacred and secular works, masses, motets, chansons, imitative counterpoint.

Carlo Gesualdo

Late Renaissance, madrigals, chromaticism, expressive text setting, intense emotional content.

Thomas Weelkes

Renaissance, English madrigals, polyphonic, secular, word painting, vocal ensembles.

Rosalyn Tureck

20th century, pianist, known for Bach interpretations, harpsichord, historically informed performance.

Glenn Gould

20th century, pianist, known for Bach, unique technique and interpretation, recording artist.

Magdalena Baczewska

Contemporary, pianist, chamber music, performance and teaching, international competitions.

Wendy Carlos

20th century, electronic music, synthesizer, “Switched-On Bach,” film scores.

Henry Purcell

Baroque, English composer, operas, sacred music, keyboard works, expressive harmonies.

Barbara Strozzi

Baroque, Italian composer and singer, secular vocal music, cantatas, expressive text setting.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Classical, symphonies, operas, chamber music, piano concertos, clarity, balanced structures.

Joseph Bologne

Classical, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, violinist, composer, symphonies, concertos, champion fencer.

Beethoven

Classical to Romantic, symphonies, piano sonatas, string quartets, dramatic expression, innovation.

Franz Schubert

Early Romantic, lieder (art songs), symphonies, chamber music, melodic lyricism, expressive harmonies.

Giacomo Puccini

Late Romantic, Italian opera, verismo style, memorable arias, orchestration for drama.

Richard Wagner

Romantic, German opera, leitmotifs, gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork), large-scale orchestration.

Lesley Riddle

20th century, African American folk musician, guitarist and singer, influenced Appalachian music, song collector.

Arthur Crudup

20th century, blues singer and guitarist, Delta blues, influenced early rock and roll, “That’s All Right”

Ma Rainey

Early 20th century, blues singer, “Mother of the Blues,” classic blues style, vaudeville performances

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

20th century, gospel and blues, electric guitar pioneer, spirituals with rhythmic drive, influenced rock and roll.

Duke Ellington

20th century, jazz composer, bandleader, big band jazz, swing, orchestration, improvisation.

Charles Mingus

20th century, jazz bassist and composer, modern jazz, collective improvisation, civil rights influence.

Ella Fitzgerald

20th century, jazz vocalist, “First Lady of Song,” scat singing, swing and bebop, wide vocal range.

Charlie Parker

20th century, jazz saxophonist, bebop innovator, fast improvisation, harmonic complexity.

Dizzy Gillespie

20th century, jazz trumpeter, bebop, Afro-Cuban jazz, improvisation, big band leader.

John Cage

20th century, avant-garde composer, experimental music, prepared piano, chance operations.

Nina Simone

20th century, jazz and soul singer, pianist, civil rights activist, expressive vocal style.

Marian Anderson

20th century, contralto, classical and spiritual music, civil rights icon, international performances.

Billie Holiday

20th century, jazz vocalist, emotional phrasing, swing and blues influence, civil rights themes, unique vocal timbre.