The six major periods in Western music history.
Overview
Classical Music Periods
Classical music periods are chronological classifications of Western music development. They are broadly divided into six eras: Medieval (c. 400–1400), Renaissance (c. 1400–1600), Baroque (c. 1600–1750), Classical (c. 1750–1820), Romantic (c. 1820–1900), and Modern/Contemporary (c. 1900–present). Each period has its own musical styles, expressive techniques, and representative composers, forming an important foundation for understanding music history.
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Western music history
music history
periods
composers
| code | slug | name | description | keyComposers | period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | medieval | Medieval | An era dominated by religious music centered on Christianity. | Guillaume de Machaut, John Dunstaple, Hildegard of Bingen | c. 400–1400 CE |
| 02 | renaissance | Renaissance | An era when counterpoint developed highly and secular music flourished. | Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, Monteverdi | c. 1400–1600 CE |
| 03 | baroque | Baroque | An era characterized by basso continuo, with the birth of opera and concerto. | J.S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Purcell, Rameau, Scarlatti | c. 1600–1750 CE |
| 04 | classical | Classical | An era emphasizing clarity, balance, and simplicity, with perfected symphony and sonata forms. | Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven (early), Schubert | c. 1750–1820 CE |
| 05 | romantic | Romantic | An era emphasizing emotional expression and individuality, with greatly expanded orchestras. | Beethoven (late), Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Verdi | c. 1820–1900 CE |
| 06 | modern | Modern/Contemporary | An era that broke traditional tonality and gave birth to experimental techniques. | Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Debussy, Ravel, John Cage, Toru Takemitsu, John Williams | c. 1900–present |