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Renaissance music flourished in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The second major period of Western classical music, the lives of Renaissance composers are much better known than earlier composers, with even letters surviving between composers.
NameLifetimeNationality1350/60 – 1413/16Italianc. 1355 – c. 1436Italianfl. late 14th centurySerbian1357 – 1423German- (1600-1760)
- (500-1400)
- (1730-1820)
- (1400-1600)
- John Dunstable. John Dunstable — “Agnus Dei” First on our list is Dunstable (sometimes spelled Dunstaple). He was an English composer whose music spans the transition from the Medieval era to the Renaissance period.
- Guillame Du Fay. “Nuper Rosarum Flores” by Guillaume Dufay. Next, we have Guillaume Du Fay (also sometimes written Dufay). He was a Franco-Flemish composer who was considered one of the most important and influential artists of his day.
- Johannes Ockeghem. “Missa Prolationum” by Johannes Ockeghem. Born in 1497 in Saint-Ghislain, Belgium, Johannes Ockeghem was a chorister in Antwerp before joining the households of various French noblemen and royals.
- Josquin Des Prez. Josquin des Prez — “Agnus Dei” Often referred to simply as Josquin Des Prez, this Franco-Flemish composer was so admired that numerous anonymous pieces were attributed to him to increase their value.
- William Byrd
- Josquin Des Prez
- Thomas Tallis
- Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina
- Pierre de La Rue
- Claudio Monteverdi
- Gregori Allegri
- Orlando de Lassus
- Giovani Gabrieli
- Giulio Caccini
The Englishman William Byrd was born in 1543 and died as one of the most iconic and famous Renaissance composers known. There is plenty of evidence, even today, that attests to the larger-than-life reputation of this man. He is arguably the greatest English composer of all ages. His works run into the hundreds, with this genius creating music acros...
The next on our list of the most famous composers of the Renaissance is Josquin Des Prez. Although he is mostly known by his first name, Des Prez's works are seen as some of the best and most expressive forms of music from the Renaissance. Before his death in 1521, arguably no other composer was as revered or sought-after as much as Josquin. He was...
The third composer on this list is no other than THE Thomas Tallis. We have come across him earlier in this post. He was one of those that taught William Bryd, and he certainly influenced the latter's music. Born in 1510, Tallis is certainly one of the most popular composers of all time and his influence and music still resonate down to this day. T...
The fourth composer comes from the period referred to as the late Renaissance. If you love Renaissance music, chances are pretty high that just as with many of the late Renaissance composers, you have heard Palestrina's name the loudest. He is certainly iconic and widely regarded as the best composer from the late Renaissance period. With hundreds ...
If you love the styles of Josquin, then chances are that you'll love the works of Pierre de La Rue. Although he isn't as critically acclaimed as Josquin (who is, after all?), this composer was one of the most prolific and versatile composers of the age. Alike Josquin, Pierre made many compositions that encompass different styles of music. Although ...
The sixth most famous composer of the Renaissance period is a composer that serves as a link between the Baroque period and the Renaissance. Baroque music is known for its impressive innovation as more composers fiddles with instruments. Today, Baroque music is one of the most appealing vestiges of 17th-century music today. Well. Monteverdi linked ...
The Italians were some of the best composers in the Renaissance, along with some Englishmen and the French. Well, Allegri is one of the best Italian composers of the Renaissance and his works are viewed as some of the purest examples of Renaissance music. His masterpiece, the ‘Miserere ‘ is one of the most iconic pieces of Renaissance composition k...
There were several composers in the Renaissance, but another that stood out from the others was Orlando de Lassus. His exact origins are unknown, with some saying that he came from the Netherlands while others claim that he was a Franco-Flemish composer. Whatever his origins, what can never be disputed is the quality of his work. Just like some of ...
The ninth most famous composer of the Renaissance period is yet another composer that serves as a link between the Baroque period and the Renaissance. Baroque music is known for its impressive innovation as more composers fiddles with instruments. Today, Baroque music is one of the most appealing vestiges of 17th-century music today. Giovanni Gabri...
The last but not the least of the Renaissance composers is Giulio Caccini. He is also known as Giulio Romano and he is notable for his works in the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. A versatile person, Romano was not just a composer, but also a singer and instrumentalist. Along with a few others, particularly Monteverdi, he is regarded as on...
Inspired by the classical world, Renaissance composers fit words and music together in an increasingly dramatic fashion, as seen in the development of the Italian madrigal and later the operatic works of Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643).
Renaissance composers distinguished themselves by embracing humanism, focusing on the beauty of the human voice, and developing polyphonic music that emphasized harmony and melodic lines, moving away from the medieval focus on monophonic Gregorian chant.
Aug 16, 2018 · The Renaissance Period was a vibrant time when knowledge and fine arts flourished. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, and Titian were painting some of humanity's most awe-inspiring works of art.
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The key composers from the early Renaissance era also wrote in a late Medieval style, and as such, they are transitional figures. Leonel Power (c. 1370s or 1380s–1445) was an English composer of the late medieval and early Renaissance music eras.
