Early music
music refers to Western musical from roughly the medieval period through the early Bar, roughly from the9 to the th century. It emphasizes historical performance practices, instrument construction, and styles that differ markedly from later classical conventions.
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Medieval (c. 500–140): Monophonic to earlyphonic music; and liturgical are central.
- Renaissance (c. 140–160): Polyphony flourishes; a greater emphasis on vocal harmony and intricate rhythms.
- Baroque beginnings (c. 160–175): The rise of harmony, figured bass, and the concerted style.
Instruments and ensembles
- Voice the primary instrument in many traditions, with choirs and consorts playing key roles.
- Period instruments include viols, recorders,netts, sackbuts, lutes, har, regals, clavichords, and keyboards- Small ensembles such asorts, gambists, viol ensembles were common, often performing with flexible textures andvised embellishments.
Repertoire and performance practice
Repertoire centers sacred secular vocal music, chant, motets, masses, madrigals, and instrumental suites.
- Performance often features modal or early tonal systems, improvisation, and ornamentation aligned with historical treatises.
- Notation techniques vary by era, with ne, mensural notation, and figured bass guiding.
Notable composers and figures
- Late medieval early Renaissance figures include Guillaume de Mach and Josquin Prez- Renaissance masters such as Giovanni Gabrieli and Orlando di Lasso contributed tophonic and sacred styles.
Early Baroque pioneers like Claudio Monteverdi helped shape shift toward dramatic and textures.
Listening guide and resources
- Explore a range of vocal and instrumental works to appreciate contrasts between eras.
- Seek recordings performed on period instruments or informed by scholarly research historical practices.
If you’re new to the genre, start with accessible of Renaissance madrigals or earlyoque concerted works to grasp evolving textures and timbres.