Timeperiods in Music History
Middle Ages: 450 - 1450
Renaissance: 1450 - 1600
Baroque: 1600 - 1750
Classical: 1750 - 1820
Romantic: 1820 - 1900
Twentieth Century or New Music: 1900 -

Major Types of Musical Instruments
Stringed: instruments in which the sound is produced by the plucking, strumming or bowing of the strings. Ex: Violin, viola, cello, bass.
Woodwind: instruments in which the sound is produced by the blowing of air across a hole or onto a mouthpiece in which a reed is inserted. Ex: Clarinet, oboe, flute, piccolo, bassoon, saxophone.
Brass: instruments in which the sound is produced when air is blown into a certain length of metal tubing. Ex: Trumpet, cornet, tuba, trombone, french horn.
Percussion: instruments which are struck or shook to produce their sound. Ex: drums, cymbals, bells, maracas, xylophone, castanets, etc.

General Musical Terms

• Acapella: voices without instrumental accompaniament.
• Aria: a song for one voice; part of an opera or oratorio.
• Art song: an important type of vocal music during the Romantic period; for solo voice and piano. A group of art songs is called a song cycle.
• Cantata: a piece of religious or church music, written for chorus, vocal soloists, organ, and a small orchestra.
• Chamber music: music designed for a more intimate setting, such as the music composed by Haydn for Prince Esterhazy's enjoyment after dinner.
• Chorale: a hymn tune
• Concerto: a three-movement piece for an instrumental soloist and an accompanying orchestra.
• Etude: a study piece designed to help a performer master specific technical skills.
• Fugue: music for a group of instruments or voices, or for a single instrument, usually organ or harpsichord; a popular composition during the Baroque timeperiod; has one musical theme played over in different ways.
• Incidental music: music to be performed during or before a play. A good example of incidental music is Mendelssohn's Wedding March.
• Libretto: the words or text of a vocal piece.
• Mass: a musical composition for voices; usually sung in Latin; divided into 5 sections, the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.
• Minuet or Minuet and Trio: originated as a stately and dignified piece of dance music; usually the third movement of the Classical symphony.
• Nationalism: the idea that music have a specific national identity by the inclusion of folk melodies, dances, etc.
• Opera: drama that is sung and accompanied by an orchestra.
• Oratorio: a religious composition for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra; usually based on Biblical stories but not intended for use during a church service. Handel's Messiah, is a good example of an oratorio.
• Program music: instrumental music associated with a story, poem, idea, or scene. The Moldau by Smetana is a good example.
• Rondo: a form frequently used for the organization of a symphony movement.
• Scherzo: originally a form of dance music; frequently used by Beethoven for the third movement of his symphonies.
• Solo: one instrument or voice performing alone.
• Sonata: a musical piece for one to eight instruments; made of several movements. During the Baroque period, the sonata had one movement; during the Classical era, the sonata had 3 main sections.
• String quartet: an important form of Classical chamber music; written for 2 violins, 1 viola and 1 cello.
• Suites: sets of dance-inspired pieces of music; include the following types - Allemande (German); Courante, Gavotte (France); Sarabande (Spain); Gigue (England).
• Symphonic or Tone Poem: a one-movement piece for orchestra; usually based on a literary or pictorial idea.
• Symphony: a long composition lasting between 20 and 45 minutes; made of four movements, typically (1) a dramatic fast movement, (2) a lyrical slow movement, (3) a dancelike movement, and (4) a brilliant movement.