# Periods of Musical History

Source: https://projectgcse.co.uk/music/periods_of_musical_history

> We offer many resources for students revising for their GCSEs including: GCSE revision notes and practice questions, a GCSE bookshop, GCSE help and advice and the take a break section.

#### **Medieval (pre 1500)**

- Very simple musical structures
- Very little music was written down
- Most music was performed by troubadors
- Mostly monophonic
- Simple rhythms based on speech

#### **Renaissance (1500-1650)**

- Contrapuntal music was introduced
- Lots of imitation
- Use of modes
- Mainly polyphonic
- Usually performed by instruments of the same family

#### **Baroque (1650-1750)**

- Full of ornaments and decoration
- Use of antiphonal effects
- Use of terraced dynamics
- Often accompanied by a harpsichord
- The birth period of the modern orchestra

#### **Classical (1750-1810)**

- Music in regular length phrases
- Harmony concentrates around the tonic and dominant
- Famous composers include Mozart, Beethoven and Hadyn
- Genres of the period include symphony, concerto, string quartet and opera

#### **Romantic (1810-1900)**

- More instruments used and larger orchestra
- Variety in harmonics including dischords
- Some music used to tell stories or create emotions
- Famous composers include Tchaicovsky, Shubert and Verdi
- Contrasts in dynamics, instruments, and pitch

#### **Modern (1900-present)**

- Complete dissolution of harmony
- The combinations of instruments became more varied
- Composers became more aware of their national heritage
- Composers include Elgar, Schönenberg and Stravinsky