Midterm Composers

Hildegard of Bingen

A composer and writer from 12th century Germany, known for her sacred music and major work 'Ordo Virtutum.'

Sacred Monophony

A style of music characterized by a single melodic line, often used in religious contexts.

Leonin

A 13th century priest and poet-musician associated with the Notre Dame school of polyphony.

Perotin 'The Great'

A 13th century composer from Paris known for his contributions to Notre Dame polyphony and organum style.

Philippe de Vitry

A 14th century French composer who defined the Ars Nova musical style and created isorhythmic motets.

Ars Nova

Polyphonic art song associated with secular topics. Emerged in 14th century France known for its innovations in rhythm and notation.

Guillaume de Machaut

A leading composer and poet of the French Ars Nova in the 14th century, known for his motets and Mass 'Messe de Nostre Dame.' Used fixed forms, and his motets were longer and more rhythmically complex, with a clever use of hocket.

Francesco Landini

A 14th century leading Italian composer of ballata, foremost Italian musician of the Trecento and known for the work 'Non avrà ma’ pietà.'

John Dunstable

A leading 14th century English composer known for composing in all of the polyphonic genres the time. Work: 'Quam pulchra es.'

Guillaume Du Fay

A Renaissance composer from the Burgundian lands noted for his cosmopolitan style and use of Fauxbourdon in sacred music.

Binchois

A Renaissance composer known for his polyphonic chansons, notably his work 'De plus en plus.'

Jean de Ockeghem

A Franco-Flemish composer (1450-1520) known for his masses and thick textured choral music. The least “worldly” of his contemporaries.

Henricus Isaac

A Renaissance composer known for his German Lieder, particularly 'Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen.'

Josquin de Prez

A revered Renaissance composer whose motets and chansons are known for their textural significance and communication. The first composer in the history of Western music not to have been forgotten after his death.

Juan del Encina

A 16th century Spanish composer known for his villancicos and the first Spanish playwriting.

Jacques Arcadelt

A 16th century composer famous for his early madrigal 'Il bianco e dolce cigno.'

Carlo Gesualdo

A mid-16th century Italian composer known for using chromaticism and composed madrigals expressing torment and death. (‘Lo party’ e non più dissi)

Claudio Monteverdi

A late Renaissance Italian composer known for his madrigals who transitioned from polyphonic to instrumentally accompanied music, known for 'Cruda Amarilli.'

Claudin de Sermisy

An early 16th century French composer of chansons best suited for amateur performance, known for 'Tant que vivray.'

Tielman Susato

A Renaissance composer known for dance music, particularly 'La Morisque.'

Narváez

A 16th century Spanish composer known for lute music and the variations in 'Los seys libros del Delphin.' (the first published set of lute variations). Example work: Guárdame las vacas

William Byrd

A 16th century English composer noted for both secular and sacred music during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, while remaining Catholic in secret.The most important English composer since Dunstable.

Giovanni Gabrieli

A 16th century Italian composer known for his antiphonal compositions, particularly 'Canzona in Mode 7 in Eight Parts.'

Martin Luther

A key figure in the Reformation who wrote Lutheran Church music, including 'Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.'  Believed in the educational and ethical power of music, and retained much of Catholic liturgy.

Thomas Tallis

A 16th century English composer whose church music reflected religious upheaval, known for 'If ye love me.'

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

An influential late Renaissance Italian composer known for his polyphonic church music and 'Pope Marcellus Mass.' Known as “The Prince of Music” and was commissioned to revise official chant books the Council of Trent.

Tomás Luis de Victoria

A late 16th century Spanish composer known for his expressive sacred music, notably the motet 'O magnum mysterium.' Catholic priest, organist, and singer; most famous Spanish composer of the period.

Orlando di Lasso

A 16th century German composer known for his influential motets, particularly 'Cum essem parvulus.' Most international with both his careers and composition and was an influential advocate of text expression.