Top 50 Early Music Composers

In the weeks leading up to Christmas season, I always get into a classical music phase. I think it's the madrigals or Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite that really set the tone. However watching the film Amadeus during the holidays as kids also probably had something to do with it. I love the instrumental peaceful quality of classical music. Dating back to the medieval chants, the Renaissance madrigals, and the common practice of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and even Modern eras. It has such a timely mystical quality to it like entering some fantasy world of old. I especially enjoy to listen to classical music when I'm reading or writing. 

I've made several dives into classical study before, but have yet to post anything here in this blog (aside from my Top 50 Musicians list of which several classical composers are included). I've been wanting to compile this list for some time now, as a historical study of the most influential classical musicians. However as I prepared my study it occurred to me that I should probably divide the list into two categories; the Early Music Era (500-1600, which includes Medieval and Renaissance music) and the Common Practice Era (1600-1900s, which includes the classical tradition). The music of the early age was defined by a system of church modality, and later evolved into common era of tonality (which included major and minor keys). Both periods provide beautiful orchestral/vocal/and tonal arrangements that are considered the foundation of music as we know it today. 

I actually just recently discovered the majestical wonder of medieval and Renaissance music. The Gregorian chants and madrigal music is quite angelic as if you're floating in some form of heavenly abyss. It's important to understand that musical notation was not properly developed until the 800-900 AD. Prior to this the music of the ancients were memorized melodies without any real written sequence. By the medieval age, musical theorists developed a system of notation (like a mathematic formula or an alphabet) to be able to read musical notes. This was the beginning of musical composition where a piece of music could now be shared and preserved thru history. 

From that point on, early musical composition evolved in various regions and styles. There were distinct circles of theorists/composers known as schools that contributed to the study and practice of music. This includes the medieval French schools of St. Martial, Notre Dame, Ars Nova, and Ars Subtilor and the Italian school of Trecento (1100-1300s). The transition to renaissance music was developed by the Burgundian School and the Franco-Flemish School in the early 1400s. It further evolved in Italy during the 1500s with the development of the iconic court compositions known as madrigals. This provided new harmonious layers of choral and vocal arrangements and the beginning of a secular sound, free from the church. 

This list is by no means a ranked 50 as I still consider myself quite a novice in the dept of Medieval and Renaissance music. It's rather a list of the 50 most important/influential composers of the early musical eras. Of course I'll be putting the more famous ones at the top of the list however. I intend to better understand their musical style, nationality, time-frame, and most famous compositions. Who knows maybe someday I can make a revised version of this list as I have often done before with my Top 50 Music and Movies list. So without further ado here are the 50 most significant musicians of the early era (including honorable mentions).

Honorable Mention

• Heinrich Finck
• Baude Cordier
• Kassia
  
• John Bull
• Leonel Power
• Solage.
• Arnaut Daniel
• Alexander Agricola
• Adam of Saint Victor
• 
  Adémar de Chabannes
• Hermann Finck
• Maddelena Casulana
• Mesomedes of Crete
• Seikilos
• Bertran de Born
• William IX, Duke of Aquitaine
• Minnesänger Gottfried von Strassburg
• Hartmann von Aue
• Reinmar von Hagenau
• Chrétien de Troyes
• F. Andrieu
• Grimace
• Jehan Vaillant
• P. des Molins
• Jacopo da Bologna
• Richard Davy
• Matthaeus Pipelare
• Juan del Encina
• Robert Fayrfax
• Baldassare Donato
• Costanzo Festa
• Luis de Milán
• Antonio de Cabezón
• Peter Aberlard
• Moniot d'Arras
• Stephen of Liege
• Sebastián de Vivanco
• Giaches de Wert
• Jacob Regnart
• Tuotilo of St. Gall
• Hartker of St. Gall
• Wipo of Burgundy
• Pierre Certon
• Neidhart von Reuental
• Blondel de Nesle

Greatest Early Composers

50. Notker Balbulus

• Years: 840-912
• Nationality: Swizz (Saint Gall)
  
• Musical Style: Early Medieval Carolingian Period. Gregorian Chants. 
• Life: He was a monk at the Abbey of Saint Gall and one of the most influential in developing charts and compositions of their liturgical chants. He was referred to as Balbulus the stammerer due to his speech impediment. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Antiphons for the Office (Liturgical chants)
• Saint Gall Manuscripts

49. Costanzo Festa

• 
  Years: 1485-1545
• Nationality: Italian (Milan)
  
• Musical Style: Early Italian Renaissance. Franco-Flemish influenced. Motets and Masses. 
• Life: He was born near Milan and worked as a singer and composer for Pope Leo X in Rome. He also spent time performing in the courts of Ferrara and Milan where he became influenced by the Franco-Flemish style. He was thus famous for integrating the Italian sound with the Franco-Flemish sound during the early Renaissance. 
• Famous Compositions: 
• Missa L'homme armé — a mass based on the popular “L’homme armé” melody.
• Motet: Ave Maria — highly expressive, often recorded. 
• Motet: Gaude Maria virgo — Marian motet showcasing imitative polyphony.
• Hymn: Pange lingua gloriosi — choral hymn setting.
• Secular madrigals — though fewer survive, they show early Italian text-painting techniques.

48. Walther von der Vogelweide

• Years: 1170-1230
  
• Nationality: German
• Musical Style: Medeival Era. Monophony. Single Melodic lines of strophic form. 
• Life: He was a wandering poet and singer who performed in various courts throughout medieval Germany and Europe. He performed in the courts of Vienna under Duke Frederick I, Philip of Swabia, and even Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire. He remained popular throughout his lifetime for his poetic love songs but also his political commentary. His musical troubadours were later preserved via his manuscripts. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Palastinaleid (Most popular song on Spotify)
• Under der Linden
• Ich saz uf eime steine
• Ir sult sprechen willekomen
• Nu alrerst lebe ich mir werde

47. Andrea Gabrieli

• 
  Years: 1532-1585
  
• Nationality: Italian (Venetian)
• Musical Style: High Renaissance; Polychoral Style. Motets and Madrigals.
• Life: He spent much of his life in Venice and was an organist at St. Mark's Basilica in 1585. During this time he studied under the father of Venetian Music, Adrian Willaert. He spent some time in Munich which he later incorporated into his musical style. He is often credited with inventing the ceremonial sound of Venice. His nephew Giovanni Gabrieli also went on to be a great musical composer of the High Renaissance. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Missa Pater Peccavi
• Ricercar VIII
• Communion: O Sacrum convivium a 5 (Number one on Spotify)
• Jubilate Deo (Polychoral motet)
• Angelus ad Pastores ait (polychoral motet)

 46. Bernart de Ventadorn

• 
  Years: 1130-1200
• Nationality: French (Limousin) 
  
• Musical Style: Medieval era. Troubadour poet and singer. Cansos (lyrical love songs)
• Life: He was born of modest class and wrote love songs that quickly won over noblewomen. He later entered the service of the noble patron Eleanor of Aquitaine and traveled with her to England for some time. His fame reached great height throughout France and England due to the popularity of his love songs which were later preserved via manuscripts.
• Famous Compositions:
• Can vei la lauzeta mover (Most famous piece on Spotify)
• Can l'erba fresc
• Non es Meravelha s'eu chan
• Lo tems vai e ven e vire

45. John Wilbye

• 
  Years: 1574-1638
• Nationality: English (Suffolk)
• Musical Style: English madrigals and poetry; balanced polyphony
  
• Life: He worked under the patronage of the noble Elizabeth Kitson in Suffolk, where he performed many brilliant works of madrigal music. Most of his work was done for the private audience of the wealthy family and their friends however he did publish two famous works of madrigal compositions.  
• Famous Compositions:
• First Set of Madrigals (1598)
• Adeieu sweet Amaryllis
• Flora gave me fairest flowers
• Happy, o happy he
• Second Set of Madrigals (1609)
• Draw on, Sweet Night (Number one on Spotify)
• Weepe, O Mine Eyes

44. Johannes Ciconia

• 
  Years: 1370-1412
  
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish (Liege)
• Musical Style: Medieval; Early Renaissance. Bridging the new Ars Nova polyphony sound from Medieval to Renaissance.
• Life: Born in Liege, he studied the musical traditions in France and Belgium before traveling to Italy where he began performing in courts and chapels. He performed motets and secular songs and became popular in Venice, Padua, and Pavia for infusing the northern sound with the Italian sound of the early renaissance.
• Famous Compositions:
• Per Quella Strada latea del cielo (most popular song on Spotify)
• O Felix templum (ceremonial motet)
• Gloria tibi Trinitas (sacred Ars Nova song)
• Sus un fontayne
• Una panthera
• Stenae

43. Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

• 
  Years: 1562-1621
• Nationality: Dutch (Amsterdam)
  
• Musical Style: Keyboard music and variations with harmonic polyphony 
• Life: He is often referred to as the Orpheus of Amsterdam where he was organist of the Oude Kerk (Old Church of Amsterdam) at age 15. He became famous for his performances and also became a teacher where many traveled to learn from him during the Dutch Golden Age. He was a crucial architect of the keyboard music that led the transition from the Renaissance style into the Baroque style. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Pseaumes de David, Livre 2. No 30 (Number 1 on Spotify)
• Variations on “Mein junges Leben hat ein End”
• Echo Fantasia in D
• Chromatic Fantasy
• Fantasia Cromatica
• Toccatas and Ricercars
• Organ Chorale Variations

42. Adam de la Halle

• 
  Years: 1245-1295
  
• Nationality: French (Arras)
• Musical Style: Medieval; Troveres (poet-composer). Performed monophonic and polyphonic music. Motets, and theatrical satires. (blended music with drama performces)
• Life: He was active in both the courts and ecclesiastic centers of France well regarded for his musical compositions. His music has a playful and dramatic style which was later utilized in theatrical stage works, an early precusor to operas. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Jeu de Robin et Marion (Medieval stage play. Considered the first French musical comedy)
• De ma dame vient
• Mount me Fu Gries de la bele
• Kom, du ljuva hartevan (Come you Sweetest Maid)- most popular on Spotify
• Rose, liz printempts verdure

41. Luca Marenzio

• 
  Years: 1553-1599
  
• Nationality: Italian (Brescia)
• Musical Style: Supreme colorist. Madrigals. Harmonic shifts. 
• Life: He was a court composer and chapel performer throughout Italy, performing for the Cardinal of Rome, the Medici of Florence, and eventually came under the patronage of the Pope of Rome. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Baciami Mille Volte a 5 Voci (number 1 on Spotify)
• Solo e pensoso” (one of the era’s jewels, text by Petrarch)
• Cruda Amarilli
• Ahi, dispietata morte
• O voi che sospirate a miglior donne
• Books 1–9 of his 5-voice madrigals

40. Walter Frye

• Years: 1420-1474
• Nationality: English
• Musical Style: Early Renaissance. The Contenance Angloise tradition. Smooth leading voices with harmonic textures.
• Life: Very little is known about his biography and when or where he was born. It is believed he performed at the Ely Cathedral from 1433-1466 where he garnered admiration and fame for his musical quality. His music was discovered after his death, via his manuscripts. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Missa Flos Regalis (one of his more complete mass settings)
• Missa Nobilis et Pulchra
• Missa Summe Trinitati — a three-voice mass.
• Motet: Ave Regina Caelorum — very popular; his Ave Regina appears in three contemporary paintings.
• Chanson / Song “Tout a par moy” — secular piece widely circulated.
• Ballade “So ys emprentid” — Number one on Spotify.

39. Cipriano de Rore

• Years: 1515-1565
  
• 
  Nationality: Flemish (Modern day Belgium)
• Musical Style: High Renaissance, Franco-Flemish School Madrigals, Motets, Masses. Expressive
• Life: Born in Flanders he studied in Venice under Adrian Willaert (the founder of the Venetian school). He spent time in courts and chapels throughout Italy, merging the Flemish style with the Italian style to create a new more expressive form of madrigal. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Ancor Che Col Partire
• De le Belle Contrade d'Oriente (One of his most famous madrigals)
• O Sonno
• Misa Vivat Felix Hercules (Sacred Works)
• Infelix Ego (Sacred motet)

38. Antoine Brumel

• 
  Years: 1460-1512
  
• Nationality: French
• Musical Style: Franco-Flemish School; High Renaissance. Grand scale sacred works.
• Life: Heavily influenced by Josquin des Prez, Brumel worked in various French musical chapels suh as Chatres Cathedral, Notre Dame in Paris, and the Este Court in Ferrara. Not too much is known about his life, however his reputation increased after his death due to his many written compositions. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Missa Et Ecce Terrae Motus
• Lamanetations of Jeremiah
• Magnificat Tone I
• Missa de Beate Virgine
• Sicut lilium (One of his most famous Motets, and number one piece on Spotify)

37. Jean Mouton

• Years: 1459-1522
• Nationality: French 
• Musical Style: High Renaissance Polyphony; Franco-Flemish School. Motets, masses, and chansons. 
• Life: He worked in the French royal court under King Louis XII and Francois I and became one of the most important composer in France during his time. He was the teacher of Adrian Wallaert who later became known as the Father of the Venetian School. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Salva nos, Domine
• Nesciens Mater
• Quis dabit oculis nostris (Lament on the death of Queen Anne of Brittany)

36. Francisco Guerrero

• 
  Years: 1528-1599
  
• Nationality: Spanish (Seville)
• Musical Style: Spanish Renaissance Polyphony. Mass and motet arrangements. 
• Life: He studied under the great Spanish composer Cristobal de Morales and at the age of 18 he became the choir master of the Jaen Cathedral. He later became music director of the Seville Cathedral. He spent time traveling to Italy and the Holy Land of Jerusalem, before being ransomed by pirates. He spent his final years in poverty however his mass and motet compositions lived on.
• Famous Compositions:
• Maria Magdalena (motet. Number one on Spotify) 
• Ave Virgo Sanctissima (motet) 
• Missa Surge Propera (mass)
• Missa Congratulamini Mihi (mass) 

35. Thomas Morley

• Years: 1557-1602
• Nationality: English (Norfolk)
• Musical Style: English Madrigal. Secular and sacred music. Also influenced by Italian Madrigals.
• Life: At a young he became a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He later worked closely with the renown musician William Byrd and the Chapel Royal. He published various important works of musical theory as well as compositions of English Madrigals performed for the Elizabethan court. One of his defining features in his music was the fusion of English and Italian madrigal style. 
• Famous Compositions:
• I Heard a Voice from Heaven (His number one track on Spotify)
• “Now is the Month of Maying” — his most famous madrigal, light and festive.
• “Sing We and Chant It” — madrigal, often performed at early music festivals.
• “April is in my Mistress’ Face” — another popular madrigal.

34. Ludwig Senfl

• 
  Years: 1486-1542
  
• Nationality: German/Swiss (Basel)
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance; German Franco-Flemish  Tradition. Polyphonic sacred and secular music. 
• Life: He was born in Basel, Switzerland and studied under the famous German composer Heinrich Isaac in the court of Habsburg. He later worked in Vienna as a composer of the Imperial Chapel whilst serving the Habsburg dynasty. He composed both Catholic and Protestant works of sacred motets. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Ach Elslein, Liebes Elselein Mein (Most Popular piece on Spotify)
• “Ach, dass ich Wassers gnug hätte” – German lied, one of his most recorded secular pieces.
• Motet: “O Maria, heil’ge Mutter” – sacred polyphony.
• Mass settings – several for 4–6 voices, demonstrating his contrapuntal skill.
• “Responsorium de Sancto Spiritu” – a liturgical motet.
• German lieder collections preserved in manuscripts and early printed editions
• Im Maien- catchy piece.

33. Nicolas Gombert

• Years: 1495-1560
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish (Belgian/France)
  
  
  
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance, Franco-Flemish school. Dense Polyphony, hypnotic quality. Sacred music of masses and motets.
• Life: He worked at the Imperial Habsburg under the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. He served at the Spanish royal courts and became musical director at the Cathedral of Toledo. During this time he was accused of a sexual scandal with a choir boy and he was imprisoned. Despite this scandal he composed a number of influential works of Late Renaissance music. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Magnifcat Primi Toni- His most popular piece on Spotify
• Motet: “Usquequo Domine” – one of his most famous motets, showcasing dense imitative polyphony.
• Missa “Hercules Dux Ferrariae” – a well-known mass setting.
• Motet: “Veni Sancte Spiritus” – typical example of his continuous polyphonic style.
• Motet: “Super flumina Babylonis” – another frequently recorded piece.
• Many other sacred motets, often for 5–6 voices, which display his contrapuntal mastery.

32. Gilles Binchois

• Years: 1400-1460
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish
• Musical Style: Early Renaissance; Burgundian school. Merged the English school with the French style.
• Life: Served in the Burgundian court under Philip the Good for 30 years. Served as a soldier and a musical composer. He worked alongside other great composers such as Guillaume Du Fay and John Dunstaple. He achieved fame throughout his life, with many compositions of sacred music.  
• Famous Compositions:
• “De plus en plus”
• “Triste plaisir” (His most popular song on Spotify)
• “Je loe amours”
• “Mon seul et souverain désir”

31. Orlando Gibbons

• Years: 1583-1625
• Nationality: English
• 
  Musical Style: English Madrigal School. Keyboard. Polyphony. Sacred works. 
• Life: He was born into a musical family near Cambridge and became a choral singer and organist for the Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal in 1605. He continued to study music at Oxford and was later appointed chief organist at Westminster Abbey in 1623.
  
• Famous Compositions:
• “The Silver Swan” — most famous madrigal
• “This Is the Record of John” — verse anthem
• “O Clap Your Hands Together” — full 8 voice anthem
• Short Service & Second Service — choral works for evensong
• Pavans — for viol consort, beautifully contrapuntal and expressive. Number one on Spotify. 
• Keyboard / Virginal Fantasias — solo keyboard works showing his contrapuntal skill.

30. Philippe de Vitry

• Years: 1291-1361
• Nationality: French
• Musical Style: Ars Nova; transition from Medieval to Renaissance
• Life: Served in the court of King John II of France and various other royal patrons. He was a poet, composer, and musical theorist who developed the style of Ars Nova (which began the transition from Medieval to Renaissance style that included a more complex rhythmic sequence). Many of his compositions were lost however most of his sacred works remained intact. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Cum statua/Hugo
• Petre Clemens/Lugentium
• Garrit gallus/in nova fer Neuma
• Veni Creator Spiritus

29. John Dowland

• Years: 1563-1626
• Nationality: English (London)
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance. English Madrigal and lute pieces.
• Life: He was born in London but studied extensively in both Italy and Germany. He also served for the Danish King Christian IV as his court composer. John Dowland was most renown for his lute performance and compositions, which became an iconic instrument of court composers during the Renaissance. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Lady Rich, Her Galliard
• Frogg Galliard
• Lachrimae Antiqua
• Melancholy Galliard
• Now O Now I Needs Must Part (Madrigal)

28. Cristóbal de Morales

• 
  Years: 1500-1553
• Nationality: Spanish (Seville)
  
• Musical Style: Renaissance polyphony; Spanish sacred music tradition. Also influence by Franco-Flemish style. 
• Life: Born in Seville, Spain he worked for various cathedrals in Palencia, Seville, and Toledo. Whilst in Rome he partnered and was influenced by the Franco-Flemish composer Pierre de La Rue. He was an early figure in the Spanish renaissance and influeced later great Spanish composers such as Tomas Luis de Victoria and Francisco Guerrero. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Parce Mihi Domine (Spare me Lord)- His most popular piece on Spotify
• The Magnificats (Song of Mary. 8 ecclesiastical modes)
• Missa Mille Regretz (his best known mass)
• O Magnum Mysterium
• Missa pro Defunctis (Requiem Mass)

27. Jacob Clemens non Papa

• Years: 1510-1555
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish (Modern day Belgium
• Musical Style: Franco-Flemish school. Sacred music masses, motets, and secular chansons. 
• Life: Born in Flanders he worked in various churches in the region, including in France. Little is known about his life, however he was highly regarded as a musical composer. He was referred to as "Non Papa" to distinguish him from the pope of the time, Clement VI. He is most regarded for his musical adaptations of the psalms in Dutch known as the Souterliedekens.
• Famous Compositions:
• Adieu délices de mon cœur- Most popular piece on Spotify
• Sanctus
• Ego flos campi
• Veni Electa Mea
• Carole, Magnus Eras
• Souterliedekens (Dutch psalm settings) — extremely important and historically popular; he set many psalms in Dutch for domestic singing
• Salvator Noster Dilectissimi — 5‑voice motet
• Tristitia Obsidet Me

26. Carlo Gesualdo

• Years: 1566-1613
  
• Nationality: Italian
• Musical Style: Neapolitan Madrigal tradition. Highly Chromatic, expressive, with elements of despair and ecstasy. Harmonic shifts. 
• Life: He was a noble Prince of Venosa well versed in musical composition. However he lived a scandalous life after he murdered his wife and her lover after discovering them having an affair.  
• Famous Compositions:
• Moro, lasso, al mio duolo (Madrigal)
• Beltà, poi che t’assenti (Number one on Spotify)
• Tenebrae Responsoria Tristis est Anima Mea (Another beautiful song)
• Se la mia morte brami
• O Dolce mio tesoro

25. Michael Praetorius

• Years: 1571-1621
• 
  Nationality: German
  
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance/Early Baroque. German Protestant movement. Sacred and secular music. Blends Italian Polychoral elements with German elements
• Life: Served as Kapellmeister for the Duke of Brunswick at Wolfenbüttel. He spent much time developing theory and compositions that would later influence musical academies throughout Germany. His encyclopedia Syntagma Musicum became a crucial source of Baroque musicology. He worked mostly in Lutheran churches and composed various popular Christmas arrangements such as Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming. His version is arguably the most well known harmonization of the famous carol. 
• Famous Compositions:
• “Puer natus est nobis” – a motet for Christmas, widely performed.
• “Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen” – arrangement of the famous German carol. Number one on Spotify. One of my all time favorite Christmas hymns of old. 
• Polychoral works such as Canticum B. Simeonis – works for multiple choirs and instruments. 
• Terpsichore (1612) – a collection of over 300 instrumental dances; extremely influential for early Baroque dance music.
• Chorale settings – numerous Lutheran chorale arrangements for voices and instruments.

24. Giovanni Gabrieli

• 
  Years: 1555-1612
  
• Nationality: Italian (Venice)
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance. Venetian School. Transitional to Baroque music. 
• Life: He was a nephew and student of his uncle Andrea Gabrielle (who was a student of Adrian Willaert). Just like his uncle he became an organist at St. Mark's Basilica and helped advance the Venetian style of instrumentation with polychoral tradition. He was a key figure in bridging the transition from Renaissance to Baroque style. 
• Famous Compositions:
• In Ecclesiis (His most popular piece on Spotify)
• Sonata Pian e Forte (One of the first pieces of music to incorporate sound dynamics)
• Sacrae Symphoniae (collection of motets and canzonas)
• O magnum mysterium
• Jubilate Deo

23. Léonin

• 
  Years: 1150-1201
  
• Nationality: French
• Musical Style: Medieval Era; Notre Dame School. Pioneer of Two-Voice Organum
• Life: Served as a cleric and composer at Notre Dame Cathedral during it's construction. Not much is known about his life, other than his post at Notre Dame and that he was the predecessor and teacher to Perotin. His manuscripts were preserved by the English musical theorist, Anonymous IV. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Viderunt Omnes (Number one piece on Spotify)
• Alleluia, Pascha Nostrum
• Haec dies
• Resurrexi
• Gloria

22. Hans Leo Hassler

• Years: 1564-1612
• Nationality: German
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance/Early Baroque Composer. Germanic Polyphonic tradition also influenced by Italian madrigals. 
• Life: Born in Nuremberg, Germany from a musical family he studied music in Venice, Italy. He brought back the Italian madrigal style and infused it with the German style to create an original sound. His innovative work as a court composer and organist helped bridge the transition from Renaissance to Baroque music. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Verbum caro factum est (widely performed motet)
• Dulcis amor Jesu
• O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht
• Ich Liebe dich
• Cante Domino canticum novum (most popular piece on Spotify)

21. Clément Janequin

• Years: 1485-1558
• Nationality: French
• Musical Style: Parisan Chanson Tradition. Progammatic chansons. Lively, rhythmic melodies
• Life: He worked in Paris throughout his lifetime for various musical patrons. He developed a distinctive style of secular music that often told stories of historical battles and victories. His music has a lively and catchy quality to it which made him quite popular during his lifetime. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Au joly jeu (most popular piece on Spotify)
• La Bataille (mimics battles sounds with voices)
• La Chant des Oyseaux (mimics bird songs)
• Ce qu on fait au bon vin (jovial drinking song)
• Mille regretz

20. Francesco Landini

• 
  Years: 1325-1397
  
• Nationality: Italian
• Musical Style: Italian Trecento; ballate, secular. Vibrant melodies renown for the "Landini cadence.  
• Life: He was blind at an early age but had a strong sense for music and became a prominent singer, organist, and composer. He worked at Florence at the start of the cultural renaissance with other poets and artists. He was celebrated throughout his lifetime for his vibrant, expressive, and joyful music. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Ecco la primavera (most popular piece on Spotify)
• Non avra ma pieta
• O primavera
• Kalenda Maya

19. Thomas Weelkes

• Years: 1576-1623
• Nationality: English
• Musical Style: Renaissance. English Madrigal School. Anglican church and playful music.
• Life: He achieved credibility as an organist and choir master at the Chichester Cathedral. He performed and wrote many compositions of playful and expressive renaissance madrigals. His character is often described with instances of wild and drunken behavior that often got him in trouble. However despite his outlandish character his music is highly regarded. 
• Famous Compositions:
• As Vesta Was from Latmos Hill Descending (Iconic English madrigal)
• Lament and Elegy, Death Hath Deprived me (Most popular piece on Spotify)
• The Triumps of Oriana
• Thule, the Period of Cosmography

18. Johannes Ockeghem

• 
  Years: 1410-1497
  
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish
• Musical Style: Early Renaissance. Franco-Flemish School. Complex Polyphony. Masses, motets, and chansons
• Life: Rose to prominence in French royal chapels, playing for various kings. Developed a new format of musical composition with more complex polyphony with smoother voices and extended notes.  He frequently worked alongside fellow French composer, Anotine Busnois. He was highly regarded throughout his lifetime and influence the great French composer, Josquin des Prez.
• Famous Compositions:
• Missa proclationum (most popular piece on Spotify)
• Intermerate dei mater
• Missa cuisvis toni
• Intermeratea dei mater
• Fors seulement (chanson)

17. Adrian Willaert

• 
  Years: 1490-1562
• Nationality: Flemish (modern day Belgium)
  
• Musical Style: High Renaissance. Founder of the Venetian School. Pioneer of antiphonal music known as Cori Spezzati, which was broken up choruses. 
• Life: Studied under Jean Mouton in Paris, where he first learned the Franco-Flemish school of music. He later traveled to Italy to work for various nobles and later ascended to the post of musical director at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. From this point on he established his reputation as the top composer of Venice, creating a new style of madrigal music. He influenced other great Italian composers such as Cipriano de Rore, Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Da Le Belle Contrade d'Oriente
• Vecchie letrose non valete niente
• Magnificat sexti toni
• Surge, Illuminare
• Se la face ay Pale 

16. John Dunstaple

• Years: 1390-1453
• Nationality: English
• Musical Style: Early Renaissance. Pioneer of the English Countenance (distinctive style of sweet musical polyphony). 
• Life: Worked under the patronage of the Duke of Bedford and the Duke of Gloucester where he got involved in politics, ecclesiastic, as well as astrology, and mathematics. He also spent some time where he worked with other famous composers such as Guillaume Du Gay and Gilles Binchois (considered the Big Three). He is regarded as one of England's most famous early musical composers alongside William Byrd and Thomas Tallis. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Missa Rex seculorum”
• “Quam pulchra es” (Most popular piece on spotify)
• “Alma redemptoris mater”
• Veni Sancte Spritus

15. Pierre de La Rue

• 
  Years: 1452-1518
  
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish (modern day Belgium)
• Musical Style: High Renaissance. Deep and darker polyphonic style.
• Life: He spent a good portion of his musical career serving the Habsburg-Burgundian courts and chapels primarily the Grand Chapelle (under Philip the Fair and Emperor Charles V). He spent some time traveling across Europe performing, however is one of the few Renaissance composers who did not visit Italy. His music is unique for it's darker deeper quality
• Famous Compositions:
• O Salutaris hostia (most popular on Spotify)
• Jam Sauche
• Absalon, fili mi
• Requiem (one of the earliest polyphonic requeims)

14. Antoine Busnois

• Years: 1430-1492
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish (Burgundy)
• Musical Style: Early Renaissance. Burgundian School. Sacred music with also dance-like chanson and court music. 
• Life: Served in the court of Charles the Bold (Duke of Burgundy). He also worked as a chapel musician composing secular and sacred music. He achieved great recognition during his time, and influenced Jacob Obrecht as well as the great French Renaissance musician, Josquin. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Amours amours amours (Most popular piece on Spotify)
• Alleluya
• De tous bien plein
• L'Homme arme (secular piece)
• Je ne puis vivre (lively court love song)

13. John Taverner

• Years: 1490-1545
• Nationality: English (Lincolnshire)
• Musical Style: English Renaissance. Florid style, Early Tudor school. 
• Life: He studied music at the Cardinal College of Oxford where he became choir director. He then became a target of Henry VIII's protestant reformation, and was forced to leave his post, however managed to escape persecution. He spent his final years in solitude, polishing his wonderful musical compositions. He is considered the last great Catholic English musician prior to their complete reformation. 
• Famous Compositions:
• In Nomine: (Most popular song on Spotify)
• Missa Gloria tini Trinitas
• Western Wyned Mass
• Missa Cornoa Spinea
• Missa O Wilhelme

12. Jacob Obrecht

• 
  Years: 1457-1505
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish (Ghent)
  
• Musical Style: Early Renaissance. Franco-Flemish school. Sacred masses, motets, and secular songs
• Life: Born in Ghent he worked in various courts and cathedrals throughout the Low Countries and later Italy. He was influenced by the works of Busnois and other great Burgundian composers. He was highly respected during his time, however many of his works were lost. He also influenced one of the greatest French renaissance composers, Josquin des Prez. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Largire nunc mitissime (most popular piece on Spotify)
• Missa O'lume Ecclesie
• Missa Caput
• Missa sub tuum praesidium 

11. Guillaume Dufay

• Years: 1397-1474
• Nationality: Franco-Flemish
• 
  Musical Style: Burgundian School. Early Renaissance. The Crossroads between medieval and renaissance music. Known for masses, motets, chansons, and court dance music. 
• Life: He was a choirboy at Cambrai Cathedral in France before moving to Italy to serve in the papal court of Rome. He became highly regarded for his musical performances and held a post at Cambrai Cathederal in that latter part of his life. He is considered a pivotal figure that influenced and lead the transistion from medieval to renaissance music. 
  
• Famous Compositions:
• Salteraello (Italian for "jump" this was a popular dance song played in the royal courts during the Renaissance heavy with flute, violin, and the lute. Very catchy upbeat song and the most popular piece on Spotify)
• Ave Maris Stella
• Vergene Bella (Another upbeat court dance song)
• Missa L'Homme Arme (one of his most famous sacred masses)
• Missa Se La Face ay Pale

10. Heinrich Isaac

• Years: 1450-1517
• Nationality: Austrian (Holy Roman Empire)
• Musical Style: Franco-Flemish Style with Italian and German influence. Masses, Motets, and secular songs.
• Life: Well traveled and cultural composer who began under the Habsburg court of Innsbruck before traveling to Florence. Whilst in Florence who was a patron of Lorenzo de' Medici and began merging the German sound with the Italian sound. He was highly respected throughout his lifetime and wrote many compositions that influenced future musicians.  
• Famous Compositions:
• Missa Presulem ephebeatum (most popular on Spotify)
• Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen (famous German secular song)
• Maudit Soyt
• Hymn to the Virgi

9. Pérotin

• 
  Years: 1180-1225
  
• Nationality: French (Paris)
• Musical Style: Medieval polyphone. Notre Dame School. One of the architects of multi-voiced, rhythmic polyphony known as organum. 
  
• Life: He was influenced by Leonin and succeeded him as principle musical composer at the Notre Dame Cathedral. Although not much is known about his life, his manuscripts were later recovered and published by the English musical theorist known as Anonymous IV. He is best known for developing the scale of the organum from dual voices to multiple voice harmonies. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Beata Viscera (Most popular piece on Spotify)
• Viderunt Omnes
• Sederunt Principes
• Alleluia, Nativitas
• Rest est admirabilis

8. William Byrd

• 
  Years: 1540-1623
  
• Nationality: English
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance. Sacred, Anglican, consort, masses, madrigals, and keyboard solo works. 
• Life: He was a pupil of the great Thomas Tallis. Byrd was a devout Catholic during Queen Elizabeth's religious persecutions however was spared due to his great music. He became a Gentleman of the Royal Chapel and wrote for both Protestant and Catholic branches. Considered the greatest keyboard composer of the Renaissance and one of the greatest English early composers alongside John Dunstaple and Thomas Tallis. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Ave Verum Corpos (Most popular piece on spotify)
• Mass for Four Voices
• Mass for Five Voices
• Mass for Three Voices
• Ave verum corpus
• Laetentur caeli
• Emendemus in melius

7. Hildegard von Bingen

• Years: 1098-1179
• 
  Nationality: German
• Musical Style: Medeival. Early sacred chant tradition. 
  
• Life: Benedictine abbess at the convent of Ruperstberg, Germany. She is considered one of the first great female musicians, who claims to have had spiritual visions throughout her lifetime. She was considered a polymath of medicine, science, philosophy, poetry, and musical composition. She later served as an advisor to nobles and popes. She invented her own language with symbolic meanings to interpret her mystical visons. wrote many meditative hymns and chants that are recognized today as some of the greatest works of the medieval era. She is one of the only musical composers on this list to have been canonized as a saint. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Ordo Virtutum: liturgical drama and one of the earliest forms of morality plays
• O vis asternitatis
• Spiritus Sanctus Vivifancs (most popular on Spotify)
• O Rubor Sanguinis Antienne (another lovely piece)
• Ave Generosa
• O Euchari in leta via
• O Virtus Sapiente

6. Orlando di Lasso

• Years: 1532-1592
• 
  Nationality: Franco-Flemish (Mons-modern day Belgium)
  
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance. Sacred motets, masses, madrigals, chansons. Blended Italian, French, and German styles into expressive smooth polyphonic pieces
• Life: Spent some time traveling thru France, England,  the Low Countries, and Germany. He eventually settled in Munich, where he landed the post of kapellmeister at the Bavarian court. He was well admired throughout his lifetime and worked with other prominent composer such as Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli. He wrote over 2000 compositions throughout his career and is regarded as one of the leading musical figures of the late Renaissance. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Lagrime di San Pietro (Most popular piece on Spotify)
• Tristis est anima mae (popular motet)
• Si du malheur
• Adoramus te, Christe
• Matona mia cara (Italian madrigal)
• Tant que vivray

5. Tomás Luis de Victoria 

• 
  Years: 1548-1611
• Nationality: Spanish (Castilian)
  
• Musical Style: Spanish High Renaissance. Sacred Polyphonic vocal music. 
• Life: He began as a chorister in Avile where he was influenced by the music of Cristobal Morales. He later studied in Rome where he met and worked with the great Palestrina. During this time he became a priest, which led his emphasis on sacred music. He is considered one of the most famous Spanish composers of the Renaissance best known for his variation of O Magnum Mysterium. His music was often very intense and dramatic, ideal for the Offices of the Dead, funerals, prayer reflection, and during Holy Week. 
• Famous Compositions:
• O Magnum Mysterium: His version is the most popular. This is another of my favorite pieces of Renaissance music.
• Officium Defunctorum
• Jesu Dulcis Memoria
• Ave Maria
• O Vos Omnes
• Tenebrae Responsories (Holy Week Hymns- most notably the Amicus Meus Osculi me Tradidit Signa)

   
4. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

• 
  Years: 1525-1594
• Nationality: Italian
  
• Musical Style: Late Renaissance. Roman School. Sacred Polyphony, masses, and motets.
• Life: Spent most his life working in Rome. In 1551 he was appointed maestro di cappela at St. Peter's Basilica by Pope Juius III. He specialized in masses and motets and wrote over 250 throughout his respected career. His music is considered the ideal of the Renaissance and popular among musical theorists for his "Palestrina style"- use of counterpoint polyphony. His music sounds like a chorus of angels pulling you up into heaven. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Missa Papae Marcelli: Most popular piece on Spotify, quite angelic.
• Sicut cervus: lyrical motet
• O Bone Iesu 
• Ave Maria

3. Josquin Des Prez

• Years: 1450-1521
• Nationality: France (Northern France/Belgium)
  
• Musical Style: Franco-Flemish School. Invented a new form of imitative and expressive Polyphone. Mostly vocal works of masses, motets, and secular chansons.
  
• Life: He began his life as a choir-boy at Saint-Quentin where he quickly gained an admiration and reputation for music. He rose the ranks to work in the musical courts of Milan and then to serve at the papal chapel in Rome. He later found musical work at the prestigious court of Ferrara. He achieved fame during his lifetime which was quite rare for a Renaissance musician. He is regarded as one of the greatest Renaissance composers, the Michelangelo of Music. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Ave Maria. Virgo Serena (One of his most famous and beautiful motets)
• Misere mei, Deus
• Missa Pange Lingua
• Missa L'Homme Arme Super voces Musicales
• Illibata Dei Virgo Nutrix
• Inviolata integra et casta es Maria
• Tu solus qui facis mirabilia
• Mille Regretz
• El Grillo

2. Guillaume de Machaut

• Years: 1300-1377
  
• Nationality: French
• Musical Style: Medieval; Ars Nova movement. 
• Life: Served as musical director at the Reims Cathedral which offered him stability to work on musical compositions. He was also close with the French nobility and royalty such as King John of Bohemia. He is regarded as a central figure of Medieval music, particularly the Ars nova style. Many of his pieces sound quite familiar as if I have heard them before in some medieval film. 
• Famous Compositions:
• Douce dame Jolie (most popular piece on Spotify. Very familiar tune)
• Messe de Nostra Dame (earliest complete polyphonic works)
• Rose liz, printempts, verdure
• Ma fin est mon commencement
• J'aim sans penser (another recognizable tune)

1. Thomas Tallis

• Years: 1505-1585
  
• Nationality: English
• Musical Style: English Renaissance (Tudor school). 
• 
  Life: As a child he became a choir member of the Chapel Royal before becoming one of the Tudor's favorite musicians. He served as court composer for King Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. His elaborate choral arrangements are considered the definitive English Renaissance music. He influenced many other English musicians after him such as William Byrd. Many of his peices incorporate that lovely angelic and transcendent Renaissance sound.   
• Famous Compositions:
• Spem in alium (40 part motet)
• If Ye Love Me (beautiful tune that is most popular on Spotify)
• Lamentations of Jeremiah
• Sancte Deus
• O Nata Lux
• O sacrum convivium
• Hear the Voice and Prayer