European Music

In the Middle Age Europe, Christian religion was very important in everyday life. Music had an important part during ceremonies and religious services. Religious music required the performance of a simple melody or song. Usually a choir performed these songs with no instruments except the organ from time to time. 

The writing of Musical Notes

The way in which we write musical notes today, started during the Middle Ages. At the beginning they put signs above the words for showing the singers what to sing. Shortly after, these signs were put on lines. Each line and the space between them represent a different note, so that the singer know precisely what to sing. Monks were the ones who wrote books with religious songs, books that were nicely decorated. All over the Europe these books were kept in churches and monasteries.

Baroque Music

The European music composed between 1600 and 1750 was named "Baroque". During this period, instrumental music became very important and many new musical styles were written. One of the most important changes was the emergence of opera. Instruments like flute were improved in order to allow the performance of more different notes. They used to write books about playing an instrument. 

Concerto Grosso

Concerto Grosso is a musical composition made for a small group of solo instruments and an orchestra. 
Famous concerts of this kind comprise "The Four Seasons" written in 1725 by A. Vivaldi (1678-1741) and the six Branderburgic concerts (1721) written by the German composer J.S. Bach (1685-1750).

The Oratories

An oratory is a religious story performed by a choir, an orchestra and solo singers. Apart from opera, the singers don't have to act. Messiah, by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) is an oratory. 

Public Concerts

Up to the 17th century, rich people hired most musicians in order to perform in their own houses. 

Renaissance Music

In Europe of the 15th and 16th century, there was a great interest for art, music and study. The period was known as Renaissance, meaning "new life".

Music of Entertainment

During the Renaissance, many composers started to work for the rich noblemen, kings and princes. They wrote the music for entertaining the people, such as dance music for the court, as well as music for religious services. In France, the Duke of Burgundy hired the best musicians and composers in Europe. Among them there were Guillaune Dufai (1398-1474) and Gilles Bionchois (1400-1460). 

The Printing of Music

Printing was discovered in Germany in 1450. Ottavio Petrucci printed the first collection of songs in Italy in 1501. Before that music was handwritten, a work that needed a long time to be done and was also very
expensive. Printing meant an effective and quick way to put together these songs. Soon, music was printed in all Europe. Many composers printed their music during Renaissance, including Josqun des Pres (1440-1521).

Instrumental Music

Before the 16th century, instruments were usually used for accompanying the singers. But since 1500, people started to compose music especially for instruments. Instrumental music was also used for dancing. 

Amateurs' Music

Before Renaissance only professional musicians played the instruments. Now, rich people began to sing for fun, play instruments like the fiddle.

The Madrigals

During Renaissance madrigals became very popular. These were often love songs, performed by small groups with no musical instruments. Madrigals were first composed in Italy, but they were quickly spread all over Europe. Andrea Gabrieli (1533-1585) who worked in Italy, composed a lot of madrigals. 

The Classical Music

It represents the music from the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. During this period the public concerts became very well known. A great part of the Baroque music, the sonata and the concert get the shape we know them today. 

Hayden

For a long period of time the Austrian composer Joseph Hayden worked for the Esterhazy family in Hungary. He was responsible with all the musicians at the palace, being in charge with organizing two concerts per week. 

Mozart

At 4 years old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart would play difficult parts at clavichord and organ. He spent all his life composing, teaching and conducting his creations all over Europe.

Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven invented a way of writing music that influenced many composers of the romantic period.

The pianos

Bartolomeo Cristofory invented the piano in 1700 in Italy. So the corresponding name for the piano is Piano-forte, meaning slow-hard in Italian. Unlike the clavichord, the piano can play "forte" and "piano".

The concert

The classical concert followed to the Baroque concert. It is a part for orchestra with one or more soloists.
The music played by the soloist is usually more difficult and special than the one played by the orchestra.

The sonata

Most of the sonatas are only for piano or other instrument accompanied by the piano. They consist in three of four parts.

The symphony

The word symphony means "to sound together". The symphony was developed by the baroque symphony, a part played at the beginning of an Italian opera. The classical symphony is a part for orchestra and usually has four parts.