If you wish to be generally familiar with classical music, here is a short list of composers you should know from this period.
|
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Representative Pieces |
|
1685 |
1750 |
German |
Mass in B Minor Brandenburg Concertos (chamber) St. Matthew Passion (oratorio) The Well-Tempered Clavier (keyboard) |
|
|
1685 |
1759 |
German |
Messiah (oratorio) Julius Caesar (opera) Suite No. 5 in E major (harpsichord) Music for the Royal Fireworks (wind band) |
|
|
1567 |
1643 |
Italian |
L'Orfeo (opera) 8th Book of Madrigals "Madrigals of War and Love" Vespro della Beata Vergine (voices, chorus, and orchestra) |
|
|
1653 |
1706 |
German |
Canon and Gigue in D (3 violins and basso continuo) Toccata in E Minor (organ) |
|
|
1659 |
1695 |
English |
The Fairy Queen (semi-opera) Te Deum (choir and orchestra) Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary (choir and orchestra) |
|
|
1683 |
1764 |
French |
Pièces de clavecin (harpsichord) Pygmalion (opera) |
|
|
1660 |
1725 |
Italian |
La Giuditta (opera) St. Cecilia Mass |
|
|
1685 |
1757 |
Italian |
Essercizi (keyboard) Salve Regina (choir) |
|
|
1681 |
1767 |
German |
Tafelmusik (chamber) St. Matthew Passion (choir and orchestra) Viola Concerto in G Major (viola and orchestra) |
|
|
1678 |
1741 |
Italian |
The Four Seasons (violin and orchestra) Juditha triumphans (oratorio) Gloria (choir) Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings and Continuo in G major |
If you are a student of Music History or Composition, here is a more detailed list of composers you should know from this period.
|
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Representative Pieces |
|
1671 |
1751 |
Italian |
Oboe Concerto No. 2 in D Minor (oboe and strings) Il Nascimento de l'Aurora (opera) |
|
|
1685 |
1750 |
German |
Mass in B Minor Brandenburg Concertos (chamber) St. Matthew Passion (oratorio) The Well-Tempered Clavier (keyboard) |
|
|
1644 |
1704 |
Bohemian-Austrian |
Mysteries of the Rosary (violin and continuo) Missa Salisburgensis (mass) |
|
|
~1637 |
1707 |
German-Danish |
19 Preludes (organ) Membra Jesu Nostri (cantatas) |
|
|
1605 |
1674 |
Italian |
Jephte (oratorio) | |
|
1602 |
1676 |
Italian |
Magnificats (choir) L'Artemisia (opera) |
|
|
1645 |
1704 |
French |
Te Deum (motet) Médée (opera) |
|
|
1653 |
1713 |
Italian |
Christmas Concerto (chamber) Trio Sonatas, Op. 3 (violins and continuo) |
|
|
1668 |
1733 |
French |
Leçons de ténèbres (voice, bass viol, & organ) The Art of Playing the Harpsichord |
|
|
1583 |
1643 |
Italian |
Fiori musicali (organ) |
|
|
1706 |
1785 |
Italian |
La clemenza di Tito (opera) |
|
|
1687 |
1762 |
Italian |
Concerti Grossi, Op. 3 (strings and continuo) |
|
|
1583 |
1625 |
English |
The Silver Swan (madrigal) |
|
|
1685 |
1759 |
German |
Messiah (oratorio) Julius Caesar (opera) Suite No. 5 in E major (harpsichord) Music for the Royal Fireworks (wind band) |
|
|
~1667 |
1740 |
Italian |
Missa Sapientiae (mass) | |
|
1632 |
1687 |
French |
Alceste (opera) |
|
|
1567 |
1643 |
Italian |
L'Orfeo (opera) |
|
|
1653 |
1706 |
German |
Canon and Gigue in D (3 violins and basso continuo) |
|
|
1710 |
1736 |
Italian |
Stabat Mater (chamber) La serva padrona (opera buffa) |
|
|
1561 |
1633 |
Italian |
Euridice (opera) | |
|
1571 |
1621 |
German |
Musae Sioniae (choir) Terpsichore (instrumental dances) |
|
|
1659 |
1695 |
English |
The Fairy Queen (semi-opera) Te Deum (choir and orchestra) Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary (choir and orchestra) |
|
|
1697 |
1773 |
German |
Flute concerto in D Major "Potsdam" (flute and continuo) | |
|
1683 |
1764 |
French |
Pièces de clavecin (harpsichord) Pygmalion (opera) |
|
|
~1700 |
1775 |
Italian |
Symphony in G Minor (string orchestra) Magnificat in Bb Major (choir and orchestra) |
|
|
1660 |
1725 |
Italian |
La Giuditta (opera) St. Cecilia Mass |
|
|
1685 |
1757 |
Italian |
Essercizi (keyboard) Salve Regina (choir) |
|
|
1587 |
1653 |
German |
Tabulatura nova (organ) Ludi musici (chamber) |
|
|
1586 |
1630 |
German |
Banchetto musicale (chamber) Fontana d'Israel (choir and chamber ensemble) |
|
|
1585 |
1672 |
German |
Cantiones sacrae (choir and organ) Musikalische exequien (vocal) |
|
|
1619 |
1677 |
Italian |
Arie a voce sola (soprano and continuo) | |
|
1562 |
1621 |
Dutch |
Cantiones Sacrae (vocal) Onder een linde groen (organ) |
|
|
1692 |
1770 |
Italian |
Devil's Trill Sonata (in G Minor) (violin) Violin Concerto in D Major (violin and string orchestra) |
|
|
1681 |
1767 |
German |
Tafelmusik (chamber) St. Matthew Passion (choir and orchestra) Viola Concerto in G Major (viola and orchestra) |
|
|
1678 |
1741 |
Italian |
The Four Seasons (violin and orchestra) Juditha triumphans (oratorio) Gloria (choir) Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings and Continuo in G major |
|
|
1679 |
1745 |
Czech |
Missa Sanctissimae Trinitatis (mass) |