Music
of Europe
9th c. onward
Gregorian Chant
Monophonic Latin plainchant of the Roman rite, notated in neumes; the root of Western notation.
1098–1179
Hildegard of Bingen
Abbess, mystic and composer of soaring antiphons in the Symphonia.
1525–1594
Palestrina
Missa Papae Marcelli became the model of clear Counter-Reformation polyphony.
c. 1638
Allegri — Miserere
Guarded by the Sistine choir; the 14-year-old Mozart transcribed it from memory.
4th c. onward
Byzantine Chant
The Orthodox tradition sung over an ison drone in eight modes, the Octoechos.
Baroque · 1685–1750
Johann Sebastian Bach
St Matthew Passion · Mass in B minor
Signed his scores S.D.G. — Soli Deo Gloria.
Classical · 1756–1791
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Requiem in D minor · Great Mass in C minor
Left the Requiem unfinished at his death; completed by Süssmayr.
Classical → Romantic · 1770–1827
Ludwig van Beethoven
Missa Solemnis
Inscribed the Missa: 'From the heart — may it go to the heart.'
Romantic Opera · 1813–1901
Giuseppe Verdi
Messa da Requiem
Composed the Requiem in memory of the novelist Alessandro Manzoni.
Monteverdi — premiered at Ducal Palace, Mantua, 1607.
The architecture of listening
From a single chant to a symphonic world, European music gives time an expressive form.
Bach · Baroque
Counterpoint
Independent melodic lines retain their character while forming a coherent whole. Bach's sacred works join contrapuntal discipline to the expressive force of text, chorale and instrumental colour.
Curator’s observation
Listen for the return of a subject in another voice rather than following only the highest melody.
Images: Wikimedia Commons. Historical works and architectural photographs; source and attribution are available through the original image.
Image source