Composers & Styles

These lists are not at all complete. However, they do contain the most important names and some of unusual interest.

Eras / Styles

Folk

Folk song or music is now a style. Originally it referred to relatively simple music, passed on by aural tradition and therefore co-existing in many versions. Typically the date of composition and the author were unknown. Early (primitive) examples are often based on the pentatonic scale.

Medieval (pre 1400)

In music, this is approximately anything datable (ie non-folk) and before the renaissance.

Renaissance (1400-1600)

This period of "rebirth" applied to all arts including music. There was a rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman ideas. Typical composers: Dunstable & Dufay.

Baroque (1600-1750)

This was originally an elaborate architectural style. In the 18th century it became a derogatory term ("weird / grotesque") for music of the post-renaissance period. It referred to the complex & abstract construction with heavy orchestration & ornamentation. The Baroque period overlaps that of the contrasting Rococo style which followed. Typical composers: Monteverdi, Purcell & J.S.Bach.

Rococo (1720-1770)

This was originally an allusion to fancy rock-work in art & architecture. The musical style was decorative & light - a deliberate rejection of the heavier Baroque. Typical composers: Couperin & Telemann.

Classical (1770-1830)

This term has been broadened by music publishers to mean anything that isn't some sort of folk, rock or pop etc. Originally the Classical period implied a contrast with the Romantic one that followed and overlapped it. The former style is aesthetic while the latter is emotional. Typical composers: Haydn, Mozart & Beethoven.

Romantic (1800-1900)

Music of this period is much more emotional in content than previous styles. It followed but overlaps the Classical period. Typical composers: Weber & Chopin.

Rag / Ragtime (1890 to 1920)

Ragtime music became popular at the end of the 19th century. It started in America with the ex-African population. Its main feature is a syncopated rhythm. Syncopation had been used in music long before, but this time it was connected with a dance style. Typical composers: Joplin.

Blues (1911+)

The Blues as a distinct style started in about 1911. Its main features are a scale with flattened 3rd and 7th and deep emotional content - largely depression! 12-bar blues use a repeated chord sequence of: I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I, I. Most of these triads would have the minor seventh added. There is also typically a lyric sequence of: phrase, repeat, rhyming phrase (ie a 3-line stanza).

Jazz (1914+)

The derivation of the word is uncertain, but the Jazz style started about 1914. It is light-hearted & abstract, deriving more from rag-time than blues. The main feature is improvisation but this can become excessive. In the extreme, jazz loses all melody and harmony and turns into non-music. However, soft jazz is almost like the classical style in not sounding dated. In the 1940s it led to Swing music.

Latin (? 1920+)

The name refers to Latin America (ie ex-Spanish & Portuguese) not to the Romans. Latin music includes many complex dance rhythms but usually very limited harmonies. Despite its lively style, minor chords are often used.

Rock 'n' Roll (1940+)

This style started about 1940 but had spread round the world by 1950. The early forms were called Rhythm & Blues or Swing. The music usually has a strong quadruple rhythm. It derives mostly from the Blues - inheriting its 12-bar chord sequence. However, it is usually much more upbeat in tempo and emotional content, like its Jazz ancestor. There are also Country influences.

Pop (1960+)

Short for popular, pop music started around 1960. It is a descendant of Rock 'n' Roll that is much lighter, having folk influences. There are numerous sub-types.

Rock (1970+)

This is a descendant of Rock 'n' Roll that is much heavier (in style and instrumentation). There are sub-types, eg Heavy Metal.

Country & Western

These are descendants of colonial American folk music with Blues influences. Honky-Tonk is another sub-division.

Composers (Chronological)

Composers (Alphabetical)