the invention of a stringed instrument
called Barbitos.
The seven sages
of Greece :
57
The Romans, under the King Serviu
Tullius, introduce trumpets and horns
Solon, Thales,
of metal into their army.
Periander,
C 1 eobulu s,
Pittacus, Bias,
Chilo.
i8a
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
B.C.
Cyrus conquers
550
About this time was performed in
Lydia and de-
thrones Crce-
Athens, under Thespis, the first tragedy
sus.
with choruses set to music.
Confucius, Chi-
nese philo-
sopher.
Zoroaster in
Persia.
Tarquinius Su-
per bus, the
last King of
530
PYTHAGORAS, of Samos, philosopher,
studies music in Egypt, founds in
Rome, is ex-
Greece a great School of music based
pelled.
upon mathematical principles ; invents
Rome becomes a
Republic (510).
the monochord for measuring the sound ;
ascertains the harmonious Triad, the
Cambyses con-
diatonic intervals, etc.
quers Egypt
(509).
500
Lasus, of Achaia, writes treatises on
the theory of music.
Battle of Mara-
^Eschylus, born at Athens about
thon, in which
525, singer and writer of Tragedies.
the Greeks,
commanded by
Simonides, of Ceos, born in 557, died
Miltiades, de-
468, lyrist and poet.
feat the Per-
sians (490).
Xerxes invades
Pindar, born at Thebes, in Boeotia,
Greece (487).
about the year 520, flutist, lyrist, poet,
and composer. Many hymns, odes, etc.
Battle of Salamis
Corinna, of Tanagra, in Boeotia,
in which The-
mistocles de-
feats the Per-
female singer and poetess. Several
times gains the victory in contest with
sians (480).
Pindar at the public games at Thebes.
Leonidas.
Anacreon, of Teos, lyric poet and
The mistocles
musician. To him is attributed the
banished from
Athens (471).
invention of several stringed instru-
ments.
Cimon defeats
The Greeks had about this time
the Persians
several accomplished players on the
kithara, flute, and other instruments,
who introduced new and brilliant pas-
sages and embellishments into their
performances.
Pericles, Greek
450
The highest degree of perfection of
General and
the dramatic art in Greece through
orator.
^Eschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
i8 3
Herodotus, his-
torian.
Phidias, sculptor.
Hi p pocra te s,
physician.
Commencement
of the Pelo-
ponnesian war
between the
Athenians and
Spartans which
lasts twenty-
seven years
Socrates
399)-
Alcibiades
(469-
Brennus, Chief of
the Gauls,
burns & sacks
Rome (39)-
Demosthenes
(384-322).
Diogenes (350).
Alexander the
Great, son of
Philip of Mace-
donia (333).
Ptolemy I., King
of Egypt, en-
courages the
cultivation of
sciences and
arts in his king-
dom, & founds
a library in
Alexandria.
Pyrrhus, King of
Epirus, is de-
feated by the
Romans (275).
B.C.
45
430
400
360
350
310
300
through the musical composer Damon,
the singer Agathon, etc., at Athens.
Democritus, of Abdera, philosopher,
writes seven books on music.
Lysander, of Sycion, invents a more
artistic instrumental accpmpaniment to
vocal music.
Alexandrides extends the compass of
the Greek wind instruments.
Timotheus, of Miletus, Asia Minor,
singer, kithara-player and poet, com-
poses many works, and improves the
lyre.
Plato, philosopher, in his works treats
also on music.
About this time, the first dramatic
performances with music in Rome.
Aristoteles, of Stagira, born in 384,
philosopher and musician. In his
works much about music.
^.ARISTOXENUS, of Tarentum, born in
340, philosopher and musician, founds
a new School of music which is m
opposition to the teaching of Pytha-
goras, generally accepted until that
time. He writes many treatises on
music. Division of the musicians into
Musici, or the followers of Anstoxenus,
who derive the rules of music from its
effect upon the ear, and Canomci, or
the followers of Pythagoras, who derive
them from mathematical laws.
About this period the Greeks made
many improvements in the construct!
of their musical instruments.
1 84
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
B. C.
300
Euclides, of Alexandria, born in 323,
died 283, mathematician, writes on the
theory of music and acoustics.
The first Punic
war (264-241).
The second Punic
250
Archimedes, of Syracuse, born in
287, died 212, mathematician, is said
war (218-202).
to have invented the hydraulic organ.
Scipio defeats
Hannibal in
Ctesibius, of Alexandria, improves
the pneumatic organ and alters it into
Africa (202).
a hydraulic organ. His son Hero still
further perfects the instrument and
describes it.
The first Mace-
200
Aristeas, of Greece, a kithara-player,
donian war
(200).
writes a treatise on kithara-playing.
The first library
at Rome (167).
Corinth and Car-
thage destroyed
by the Romans
150
Polybius, of Megalopolis in Arcadia,
born about the year 204, historian,
(146). Greece
writes a treatise on the influence of
and North
Africa become
music upon civilization.
Roman provin-
ces.
Civil war in Rome
IOO
Alypius, of Alexandria, writes on
(88).
The Romans
under Julius
musical notation by means of the
letters of the Greek alphabet.
Caesar invade
Britain (55).
Julius Caesar
50
Hermogenes (Marcus Tigellius),
assassinated in
the Senate-
singer and instrumentalist of Greece,
house (44).
settles in Rome.
Cicero killed (43).
Virgilius.
Anton ius and
Cleopatra de-
feated (31).
Augustus, Roman
30
Diodorus Siculus, of Agyrium in
Emperor (30).
Sicily, historian, gives some account of
Horace.
Maecenas.
the oldest music of the Egyptians and
Greeks.
Titus Livius,
IO
Vitruvius (Pollio M.), born in Italy,
Ovidius, poet.
architect, writes en musical subjects.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
185
Hermann in Ger-
many defeats
Varus (g).
The Romans
under the Em-
peror Claudius
invade England
(40).
London founded
by the Romans
(49)-
Destruction of
Jerusalem by
Titus (70).
Herculaneum
and Pompeii
destroyed by
an eruption of
Vesuvius (79).
Tacitus.historian.
Juvenal, poet.
Martialis, poet.
Pliny the
Younger.
Trojan, Roman
Emperor (98).
Introduction of
Christianity in-
to Ireland by St.
Patrick (no).
Fingal (Ossian)in
Scotland (200)
Persecutions of
the Christians
during the third
century.
Artaxerxes, king
of Persia, con-
quers the Par-
thians,& founds
the dynasty of
the Sassanidae
(226).
60
So
200
Gradual decay of the Greek Music.
The first Christian hymns (St.
Matthew, chap. XXVI. , v. 30 ; St.
Mark, chap. XIV., v. 26; I Corinth.,
chap. XIV., v. 15; Ephes., chap. V.,
v. 19; Coloss., chap. III., v. 16; St.
James, chap. V., v. 13, etc.).
Pliny the Elder, born at Verona in
the year 27, died in 79. Several books
on music.
Nero, Roman Emperor from A.D. 54
to 68, musician, singer, flutist, lyrist.
He sings and plays in public, and is
said to have maintained 5000 musicians
in his pay.
Plutarchus, born at Chaeronea in
Boeotia, about the year 40, biographer
and philosopher. Several musical
essays.
Ptolemaeus (Claudius) born at Pelu-
sium in Egypt, about the year 70,
mathematician, geographer, astro-
nomer, and musician. In his writings
he endeavours to reconcile the musical
theories of Pythagoras and Anstoxenus.
He reduces the fifteen Modes of the
Greeks to seven.
From about the year 150 to 200,
above a dozen authors are known in
whose works some account is given of
the music of the ancients.
i86
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
A. D.
Probus, Roman
250
The Fathers of the Church who give
Emperor,
causes the vine
the first account of the sacred songs of
to be planted
the early Christians are Tertullian,
on the banks
Clemens of Alexandria, and Origen.
of the Rhine
and the Mo-
o
Their writings date from the first half
selle (276).
of the third century. The Christian
communities had already during the
first century in their religious obser-
vances, which in the beginning were
held secretly, hymns sung alternately
by a single voice and a chorus in unison.
The melodies of the hymns were pro-
bably similar to those of the Greeks.
At all events, the Modes in which they
were sung, and the notation by letters
of the alphabet, had been derived from
the Greeks.
Constantine, Em-
330
Silvester I., Pope, institutes in Rome
peror, is con-
verted to Chris-
the first school for Church-song.
tianity, and
transfers the
seat of his em-
pire from Rome
to Byzantine,
hence forth
called Constan-
tinople (330).
Division of the
35
Damasus, Bishop of Rome, born at
Roman Empire
Madrid in the year 314, introduces in
into Eastern
and \Vestern
Church the antiphonal singing of the
(364)-
Psalms by two choirs, and regulates the
Kingdoms formed
intoning of the Mass.
by the Ostro-
goths and Visi-
^Oths*
St. Basilius (died 379) promotes
sacred song in the Eastern (Greek-
The Huns mi-
Christian) Church, and describes the
grate from
Church-music of his time.
Asia to Europe,
and come in
collision with
the Goths
(375).
Theodosius the
380
ST. AMBROSE, Bishop of Milan, from
Great, Empe-
ror of the East-
ern Empire
(379).
374 to 397, born about 333 in Gallia,
died in 398. Introduces the Ambrosian
Song of Praise (Te Deum laudamus),
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
A. D.
3 8o
composes several hymns, and promotes
the singing of the Psalms, in opposition
to the old Greek music.
The Visigoths, or
Goths of the
400
St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, born
West, under
354 at Tagasta, in Africa, died 430. In
Alaric, invade
his works, writes much about music,
Italy (400).
and especially recommends Psalm-
singing.
Rome is sacked
The Fathers of the Church, St. Chry-
and burnt by
Alaric (410).
sostom, Cyprian, and Hieronymus, with
others, uphold the cultivation of Church-
song, which is discouraged by many.
The Anglo-
420
Macrobius writes on music according
Saxons arrive
in Britain
to the system of Pythagoras.
(449)-
TheAnglo- Saxon
Heptarchy in
Britain (457).
500
Boethius, born 470 in Rome, died
526 ; writes several treatises on the
music of the Ancients.
Silkworms are
introduced into
Europe from
550
Cassiodorus (Magnus Aurelius) born
480, died 575; musical author.
China (550).
The Picts are
59
GREGORY THE GREAT, Pope, 590 to
converted to
Christianity
(565).
604, collects the Christian hymns, fixes
the employment of them, improves the
The Visigoths, or
Goths of the
Singing Schools, appoints Cantores,
Precentors, etc. The Gregorian Church-
West, conquer
the greater
part of Spain
596
song used in place of the Ambrosian.
ST. AUGUSTINE, first Bishop of Can-
(580).
Foundation of the
terbury, usually called the Apostle of
the English, introduces into England
Kingdom of
MerciabyCrida
with the Christian religion, the Church-
(582).
song.
Church-music contributes much t
Mohammed,
the diffusion of Christianity in heathen
founder of a
Religion (604).
The Pope in
600
countries.
St. Isidore, Archbishop of Seville, in
Rome acknow-
ledged as the
head of the
Spain, born at Carthagena about 570,
died 636. Promotes the improvement
Church (607).
of Church-music, and writes treatises
University of
f\n miiclP.
Cambridge
Wli 1 1 1 *-* -J * *"
founded (631).
i88
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
A. D.
Conquests of the
Arabs in Asia,
as far as Hin-
650
Jacob (Deacon), Stephan Eddi, Putta,
Maban, and Acca (Bishop), were dis-
dustan.
tinguished church-singers in England
J erusalem is
during the period from 620 to 700.
taken by them
(637).
The Caliph Omar
burns the Alex-
andrian library
(640).
The Danes in-
vade England
(660).
660
Vitalianus, Pope, from 657 to 672,
introduces the hydraulic organ into the
Church for sounding the first tone of
the Chorale as a guide to the singers.
The Britons are
He sends two accomplished Roman
driven into
Wales (685).
singers to Gallia (France) for the pur-
pose of improving the Church-song in
that country.
Conquests of the
Arabs in North
Africa (688).
676
Johannes Damascenus, born at
Damascus. Introduces in Church
hymns, the melodies of which differ
from the old Grecian.
The Saracens in
70O
BEDA VENERABILIS, born 673, died
Spain (713).
Glass-painting &
Mosaic in Italy
735 ; an English Monk, to whom are
attributed two important treatises on
(750).
music.
Pepin, King of
Benedict, an English Abbot, intro-
the Franks
(752-768).
duces chanting in choirs.
The Danes in-
780
Alcuinus, or Albinus, an- English
vade England
(~,Sl\
Prelate, born 736, died 814 ; promotes
(73;-
Harun al-Rashid,
Church-music.
Caliph of Bag-
dad. Flourish-
ing state of the
sciences with
the Arabs (786).
800
Charlemagne, Emperor of Germany,
introduces the Gregorian Church-song
Division of the
Monarchy of
Charlemagne
into all his dominions, and orders a
collection to be made of the popular
(843).
secular songs.
Church organs come gradually into
use.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
189
A. D.
Alfred the Great
850
Notker, a Benedictine Monk of St.
defeats the
Danes in Eng-
Gallen, in Germany, composes sacred
land (880).
songs called Sequentias Missales, which
are introduced in the churches.
886
Friar John of St. David's, the first
Professor of Music at the University of
Oxford, appointed by Alfred the Great.
Foundation of the
University of
goo
HUCBALD, Monk of St. Amand, in
O x f o r d by
Flanders, born about 840, died 932.
Alfred the
First attempt to accompany an air
Great (900)
Foundation of
the Kingdom
with several voices in harmony. Nota-
tion, consisting of the syllables of the
of Hungary by
words placed in different positions
the Magyars
between lines. The signs used for the
(about 900).
University of
Cambridge
purpose during the three preceding
centuries were called Numae.
restored (915).
Institution of
Free-M as on s
in England
(924)-
The Russians,
950
St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canter-
under Wladi-
bury, introduces organs into English
mir the Great,
embrace Chris-
churches.
tianity (988).
Poland becomes
1030
GUIDO OF AREZZO, a Benedictine
a Kingdom
/____\
Monk at Pomposa, born about 990 in
(IOOOJ.
William of Nor-
Arezzo, died 1050. Improves the method
mandy invades
of singing in use at his time, and the
England, 1066;.
notation of Hucbald ; designates the
The Moors in
tones by the letters of the alphabet.
Spain (1091).
He is supposed to be the inventor of
Peter the Her-
the Solmisation of the Hexachord, or
mit. The first
Crusade(iog5).
scale of six sounds, etc.
War between
I TOO
NOTATION. During the twelfth cen-
England and
France (1113).
tury originated our musical notation,
the inventor of which is unknown. The
Frederick I.,
first attempts in Counterpoint led to
called Barba-
rossa, in Ger-
many (1152).
the employment of notes of different
value (Mensural and Figural Notes).
However, these innovations did not
The Sultan Sala-
come into general practical use until
din conquers
Egypt (1187).
about the year 1200.
N
1 90
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
A. D.
Magna Charta,
I2OO
The most popular instruments of
or the Charter
of English
r^ i
:he Middle Ages were the Psalterium,
Liberty (1215).
Harp, Rotta, Viol, Lute, Organistrum,
Regals, Recorder, Sackbut, Shalm, etc.
Distinguished
I2O7
Contest of the Minnesanger at .the
Troubadours
and M i n n e-
sanger during
Wartburg, in Saxony.
The Minnesanger, who flourished in
the twelfth and
Germany, especially during the twelfth
thirteenth cen-
and thirteenth centuries, were identical
turies :
Guillaume IX.
with the Troubadours, or singers of
Count of
secular, amorous, and martial ditties,
Poitou ; Blon-
which they accompanied with the harp,
d e 1, with
Ixicliird Cccur
cither, guitar, or some other instrument.
de Lion ; Sor-
The original home of the Troubadours
dello of Man-
was Provence, in the South of France,
tua, Peyrols,
Bertrand de
where they originated about the begin-
Lorm, Arnold
ning of the eighth century. Subse-
of Maraviglia,
quently, at the time of the German
Heinrich von
VplrWU Wa
Minnesanger, there were also Trouba-
v ciucL.iv, w ci-
ther von der
dours in Italy, Spain and England.
Vogelweide,
Among them were many noblemen, and
K. c i ni *i r der
Aeltere, Rei-
even princes.
mar der Zwe-
ter, Ulrich von
Lichtenstein,
Heinrich von
M oru n ge n,
Wolfram von
Eschenbach,
Hartmann
von der Aue,
Gottfried von
Strassbur g,
Conrad von
Wiirzburg,
Johann Had-
laub.
The Kingdom
of Granada
I22O
FRANCO OF COLOGNE, the first
known musical author who treats cir-
founded by the
Moors in Spain
(12^8).
cumstantially on the new theory of
Harmony, and who, by expounding it
l+mywji
systematically, greatly contributes to
Foundation of
its diffusion. (Forkel, Fetis, and some
the University
other musical historians, maintain that
of Vienna
/ __ _\
Franco of Cologne lived during the
( I2 37J-
second half of the eleventh century.)
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
Cimabue, Giotto,
Italian painters
(1240).
Termination of
the Crusades
(1248).
Parliament of
Great Britain.
First assembly
of the Com-
mons as a con-
firmed repre-
sentation
(1265).
Venice and Genoa
are powerful.
Invention of Gun-
powder (1292).
Italian poets and
authors: Dante
Alighieri(i265-
i32i);Petrarca
(1304-1374);
Boccaccio
(I3I3-I375)-
Disunion in the
Church. Popes
in Avignon
(1378).
The Turks vic-
torious in Hun-
gary (1396).
Masaccio, Fie-
sole, Italian
painters (1400).
Conquest of
France by
Henry V., King
of England
(1420).
Charles VII., of
France (1422-
1461}.
A. D.
1240
I26O
1280
1300
1390
I4OO
Odington (Walter), an English monk,
writes on music in a manner similar to
hat of Franco of Cologne, in Germany.
Hieronymus von Maehren, in France,
writes on the theory of music.
ADAM DE LA HALE, of Arras, in
Prance, writes compositions in four-
part harmony, dramatic pieces, with
;ongs, etc. He lived in Provence.
./Egidius, of Zamora, a Spanish monk,
writes on the invention of musical
instruments.
Gradual diffusion of the theory of
Harmony, especially through Marchetto
di Padua, about 1310, in Italy ; and
through Jean de Muris, about 1325, in
France.
Gerson (Johannes), a French monk,
born 1363, died 1429. Musical author.
Commencement of the period in which
appeared numerous sacred vocal com-
positions, viz : Masses, Motetts (Eng-
lish Anthems), Offertories, Hymns,
Psalms, Madrigals, etc. The Madri-
gals were in the form of the Motett,
but often had secular words. Instru-
mental music was still insignificant.
DUFAY (GUILLAUME), born about
1350 at Chimay, in Belgium, died 1432.
The first Contrapuntist, properly speak-
ing. Purer harmony than previously.
Application in the notation of the
White notes, which had been already
invented before his time. Many Church
compositions.
IQ2
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
A. D.
Jeanne d'Arc
Binchois (Egide), born in Picardy,
burnt (1430).
England loses all
her possessions
contributes to the improvement of har-
mony and of musical notation. Com-
in France, ex-
poses much vocal music.
cept Calais
(about 1440).
Invention of
Printing(i44o).
Constantinople
*-ol-fn K\r tViP
1450
Dunstable (John), born about 1400
laKCll Uy LUC
Turks (1453).
in Scotland, died 1458. Improves the
harmony and the musical notation.
Watches invented
1470
OCKEGHEM, or OcKENHEiM (Johann),
at Niirnberg
born about 1430 in Hainault, Belgium;
(1477)-
died 1513. Founder of the newer
Inquisition in
Spain (1480).
Burgundy and
Netherlandish School, improver of har-
mony, and composer of Church music.
Provence in-
Obrecht, or Hobrecht (Jacob), born
corporated
about 1430 in Holland. Many com-
with France
(IA.SI)
ii-' j
positions for the Church.
\ i *t 1 )'
The Medici gov-
Bernhard, a German residing in
ern in Florence;
Venice, is said to have invented the
flourishing
organ pedal.
growth of the
arts & sciences
(1402-1537).
America discov-
1490
DEPRES (Josquin des Pre"s), born
ered by Colum-
about 1450 in France, died about 1521.
bus (1492).
Pupil of Ockeghem. Many Masses and
Macchiavelli,
historian (1469-
1527).
other compositions for the Church.
Tinctor (Jean), born about 1450 at
Ludovico Ariosto,
Nivelles, died about 1520. Founder of
poet (1474-
a School in Italy. Many Church com-
!533)-
positions.
Leonardo da
Gafforio (Franchino), born 1451 at
Vinci, painter
(1444-1519).
Tiziano Vecelli,
painter (IATJ-
Lodi, died 1522. Writer on the theory
of music, and promoter of new rules
of harmony.
\ i/ /
1576).
Adam von Fulda, born about 1450 in
Rafael Sanzio,
Germany. Writes a treatise on the
painter (1483-
newly-established theory of music, and
1520).
composes music for the Church.
Correggio (1494-
Towards the end of the fifteenth
1534)-
Albrecht Diirer
century Chairs of Professorship for
music were instituted in different towns
(1471-1528).
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
A. D.
Newfoundland,
the first British
1490
of Italy, especially in Milan and
Colony in Ame-
Naples,
rica, discover-
ed by Cabot
( I 497)-
Copernicus, as-
In the beginning of the sixteenth
tronomer(i473-
century the Netherlandish music attains
I 543)-
Zwingli in Swit-
zerland (1519)-
1500
its highest reputation in Italy (at the
time of the Popes Julius II. and Leo
Gustav Wasa,
X.), m Spain, France, and German v
king of Sweden
J
1523 '
e Petrucci (Ottaviano), of Fossombrone
Henry VIII.,King
(1509-1547).
I5O2
m Italy, invents the printing of musical
notation with movable types.
The highest de-
gree of per-
I52O
WILLAERT (HADRIAN), born about
fection of the
1490, in Flanders, died 1563. Lived
art of painting
in Italy.
in Rome and Venice. Founder of the
Venetian School. Composer of the
first Masses for six and seven different
voices, of Masses for two and three
choruses, etc.
The Netherland-
1530
Aaron (Pietro), born about 1480 in
ish School of
Painting,
founded by
Florence. Contrapuntist, writer on the
theory of music, and composer of
Johann van
Church music.
Eyk, about
1350 : Floris
Luther (Martin), born 1483 at Eisle-
Stradan, De
ben, in Germany, died 1546. Composes
Vos,' Spranger,
Chorales, and promotes congregational
Peter & Franz
Porbus Steen-
singing.
vyk, Vanbort,
Alterations in the old Church-songs
P. & J. Breug-
for the Reformed Church. Introduction
hel, Rubens