Finding Compositions by Musical Time Periods

Reference Department Albert S. Cook Library

Remember to use the Naxos Music Library database to find works by musical period. See notes from library session 1 for examples. You can also check out this site for a list of composers and works organized by musical time periods. Music is sometimes available to stream for free; most clips will stream at least 60 seconds for free

1. Open the Classical Archives website - http://www.classicalarchives.com/

To find works and composers by musical time period, start by clicking here on Periods

Click to open a musical period

2. Read a description of that musical period of history and check out the “Overview” section for major themes and musical forms.

3. Scroll further down the page to the Principal Composers and Key Works sections.

Click on tabs under composer name to open bio and list of essential works by that composer

Click on the About link to see an essay about that work. Click on Recordings to stream either the full work or an extract.

Suggested Choral Works to Investigate

Medieval Period von Bingen, Hildegard – Ordo Virtrutum, Hymns (various) Anonymous – Gregorian Chant, Plainsong (various) de Machaut, Guilliame– Masses, Motets (various) Dufay, Guilliame – Masses, Hymns (various) Dunstable, John – Masses, Hymns (various)

Renaissance Period Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi – Masses, Motets, Madrigals (various) Monteverdi, Claudio – Vespers, Masses, Madrigals, Motets (various) Desprez, Josquin – Masses, Chansons, Motets (various) Caccini, Francesca – Motets, Madrigals (various) Palestrina, Giovanni - Masses, Motets, Madrigals (various)

Baroque Period Bach, Johann Sebastian - Mass in B Minor, St. Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio, St. John Passion, Motets (various), Magnificat Purcell, Henry – Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, Odes (various), Anthems (various) Handel, George Friderick – Oratorios: Messiah, Alexander’s Feast, Israel in Egypt, Cantatas (various) Jacquet de La Guerre, Elisabeth-Claude – Cantatas (various)

Classical Period Mozart, Wofgang Amadeus – Ave Verum Corpus, Requiem, Masses, Te Deum, Exultate Jubilate Beethoven, Ludwig van – Symphony No. 9: Chorale Movement, Missa Solemnis, Cantatas (various) Haydn, Franz Joseph – Oratorios: The Seasons, The Creation, Masses: Lord Nelson Mass, Coronation and others Martínez, Marianne von – Oratorios (various), Cantatas (various), Motets (various)

Romantic Period Brahms, Johannes - German Requiem, Three Sacred Choruses, Motets Mendelssohn, Felix – Oratorios: Elijah, St. Paul Schumann, Robert – Requiem, Das Paradies und die Peri, Romanzen und Balladen Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel – Cantatas (various), Oratorios (various) Schubert, Franz – Masses, Ave Maria Faure, Gabriel - Requiem

20th Century Period (Modern) Durufle, Maurice – Requiem, Motets (various) Stravinsky, Igor – Requiem Canticles, Symphony of Psalms Rachmaninoff, Sergei – Vespers, The Bells Orff, Carl – Carmina Burana Thompson, Randall – Testament of Freedom, Frostiana Copland, Aaron – Canticle of Freedom, Motets (various), Beach, Amy – Lord of All Being, Evening Hymn Barber, Samuel – Sure on This Shining Night, Agnus Dei

21st Century Period (Contemporary) Gorecki, Henryk – Totus Tuus Part, Arvo – Te Deum, Magnificat Corigliano, John – Fern Hill Adams, John – On the Transmigration of Souls Monk, Meredith – Book of Days Larsen, Libby – All Shall be Well

Albert S. Cook Library, Towson University 02/2017 lw