History of Musical Instruments

Medieval Period: 1000-1450

Music was first developed during the Medieval period. Music of the Medieval period was, for the most part, sacred. Because ancient composers often did not affix their names to their compositions, many of the composers of this era are unknown to us. However, a few major composers from this era were Abbess Hildegard von Bingen, Perotin Magnus, and Guillaume de Machaut.

Renaissance: 1450-1600

In all forms of art and music, this period marked a burst of musical innovations. They were quickly disseminated, primarily facilitated by the advent of music printing, and thus the development of music theory and practice was likewise propelled forward. The late years of the Renaissance does show a great increase in sophistication for instrumental composition, as well as the emergence of dramatic works and the first operas.

Baroque period: 1600-1750

The Baroque period can be characterized by a greater development of string instruments. The violin became the most important bowed string instrument. Keyboard instruments also gained in importance during this period, as the organ and harpsichord were used more and more frequently. Music of the Baroque Era showed a breaking away from the severity of Medieval and early Renaissance music with emphasis on the use of great vocal and instrumental color. The spectacular harpsichord music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Francois Couperin, and Jean-Philippe Rameau, as well as the instrumental music of George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corelli and Johann Sebastian Bach was perhaps among the greatest elements of the Baroque period.

The Classical Era: 1750-1820

During the Classical Era, there was an improvement in various instruments and there was a development of orchestra. Winds took on greater complexity in the 19th century. Valves were added to horns and trumpets and more efficient fingering keys were added to flutes and clarinets. Orchestras also expanded in size. In Haydn's Creation in Vienna in 1843, 320 players and a chorus of 600 were used in performance. The orcestras also used more instruments than ever before. In the music of this period there was a revolution against the musical trends of the Baroque era. The compositions of Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in particular, exemplify the concepts of Classicism.

Romanticism: 1820-1910

During this period, formal concern, intellectuality and concise expression have now been augmented by sentiment, imagination and effect.

Twentieth Century: 1900-present

During this time, there has been a greater use of percussion instruments and electrophones were introduced. Serial and atonal composition gained an impressive following during the 50s & 60s, but these were not the only mode of musical expression, and have since given way to an increasingly expanding set of styles.


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