Name: Renaissance Musical PeriodDates: 1400 – 1600Countries: EuropeFacts:• Composers from other countries

began to use a similar style.• For the first time, music could be

printed.Music:• Composers began to express

themselves with music.• Many instruments, including the

violin, guitar, recorder, and keyboard, were made during the Renaissance.

• The main style was polyphony, or music with two or more independent voices.

Name: Guillaume DufayDates: 1397-1474Country: Belgium, in EuropeFacts: • He wrote music for the

Pope.• Many other composers

copied his style.Music: • Masses – music for

catholic churches• Many of his pieces use a

solo singer with two instruments.

Name: Michael PraetoriusDate: 1571-1621Country: Germany, in EuropeFacts:• He wrote a book about the

music of his day.• He wrote dance music for

instruments, which is still used today.

Music: • His musical book,

Terpsichore, includes 300 songs.

• He wrote many pieces in German for church choirs.

Name: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Dates: 1526-1594Country: Italy, in EuropeFacts: • He spent most of his life

composing in Rome.• Four members of his family

died during a plague outbreak.Music:• He wrote over 500 pieces of

music.• His music is smooth and

flowing; it sounds beautiful in a Cathedral.