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 |
1540 |
1623 |
English |
Cantiones sacrae (motets) Earl of Salisbury Pavan (virginal) Songs of Sundrie Natures (voice) |
|
~1450 |
1521 |
Franco-Flemish |
Missa de Beata Virgine (mass) Adieu mes amours (chanson) Miserere (motet) |
|
1563 |
1626 |
English |
Flow My Tears (song) Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares (5 viols and lute) Lute Music |
|
~1554 |
1612 |
Italian |
In Ecclesiis (multiple choirs, brass, and continuo) Sacrae Symphoniae (mixed choruses) |
|
~1485 |
1558 |
French |
La bataille (chanson) Le chant des oiseaux (chanson) |
|
1530 |
1594 |
Franco-Flemish |
Penitential Psalms of David (choral) ~100 Magnificats (choral) Magnum Opus Musicum (516 sacred motets) |
|
~1410 |
1497 |
Franco-Flemish |
Missa pro Defunctis (Requiem mass) Fors seulement l'attente (chanson) |
|
1525 |
1594 |
Italian |
Missa Papae Marcelli (mass) O Magnum Mysterium (motet) |
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 |
1446 |
1506 |
Franco-Flemish |
Missa In myne zin (mass) |
|
1519 |
1595 |
French |
Orchésographie (dances) |
|
1483 |
1538 |
German |
Fundamentbuch (organ) |
|
1562 |
1628 |
English |
Almighty God, which by the Leading of a Star (anthem) |
|
1540 |
1623 |
English |
Cantiones sacrae (motets) |
|
~1450 |
1521 |
Franco-Flemish |
Missa de Beata Virgine (mass) |
|
1563 |
1626 |
English |
Flow My Tears (song) Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares (5 viols and lute) Lute Music |
|
1497 |
1543 |
Italian |
Many ricercars (lute) |
|
1532 |
1585 |
Italian |
Canzoni alla francese et ricercari ariosi (keyboard) |
|
1557 |
1612 |
Italian |
In Ecclesiis (multiple choirs, brass, and continuo) |
|
1560 |
1613 |
Italian |
Tenebrae Responsoria (voices) |
|
1564 |
1612 |
German |
Lustgarten neuer teutscher Gesang, Balletti, Galliarden und Intraden (lieder) |
|
~1485 |
1558 |
French |
La bataille (chanson) |
|
~1452 |
1518 |
Franco-Flemish |
O Salutaris Hostia (motet) |
|
1530 |
1594 |
Franco-Flemish |
Penitential Psalms of David (choral) |
|
~1459 |
1522 |
French |
Quaeramus cum pastoribus (voices) |
|
~1510 |
1580 |
Spanish |
3 Libros de musica (vihuela) |
|
1490 |
1547 |
Spanish |
Los seys libros del Delphin (vihuela/guitar) |
|
~1410 |
1497 |
Franco-Flemish |
Missa pro Defunctis (Requiem mass) |
|
1525 |
1594 |
Italian |
Missa Papae Marcelli (mass) |
|
~1355 |
1436 |
Italian |
Benedicamus Domino (2 voices) |
|
~1410 |
1473 |
German |
O rosa bella (3 voices) |
|
1560 |
1629 |
German |
Cantiones Sacrae (chorus) |
|
~1505 |
1585 |
English |
Third Mode Melody (Why fum'th in fight) (4 voices) |
|
~1490 |
1545 |
English |
||
~1505 |
~1572 |
English |
The Actes of the Apostles (4 voices) |
|
~1480 |
~1532 |
French |
Quanto sia liet' il giorno (4 voices) |
|
1377 |
1445 |
German |
Geistliche und weltliche Lieder (voices) |