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Renaissance Composers (1430 – 1600)

If you are a student of Music History or Composition, here is a more detailed list of composers you should know from this period.

NameBirthDeathNationalityRepresentative Pieces
Agricola, Alexander14461506Franco-FlemishMissa In myne zin (mass)
De tous biens plaine (three voices)
Arbeau, Thoinot15191595FrenchOrchésographie (dances)
Buchner, Hans14831538GermanFundamentbuch (organ)
Bull, John
 ML410 .B93
15621628EnglishAlmighty God, which by the Leading of a Star (anthem)
Walsingham (virginal)
Byrd, William
 ML410 .B996
15401623EnglishCantiones sacrae (motets)
Earl of Salisbury Pavan (virginal)
Songs of Sundrie Natures (voice)
des Prez, Josquin~1450 1521Franco-FlemishMissa de Beata Virgine (mass)
Adieu mes amours (chanson)
Miserere (motet)
Dowland, John15631626EnglishFlow My Tears (song)
Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares (5 viols and lute)
Lute Music
Francesco da Milano14971543ItalianMany ricercars (lute)
Gabrieli, Andrea15321585ItalianCanzoni alla francese et ricercari ariosi (keyboard)
Psalmi Davidici (6 voices)
Gabrieli, Giovanni
 ML410 .G11
15571612ItalianIn Ecclesiis (multiple choirs, brass, and continuo)
Sacrae Symphoniae (mixed choruses)
Gesualdo, Carlo
 ML410 .G29
15601613ItalianTenebrae Responsoria (voices)
Moro, lasso, al mio duolo (from Book 6 of Madrigals)
Hassler, Hans Leo15641612GermanLustgarten neuer teutscher Gesang, Balletti, Galliarden und Intraden (lieder)
Janequin, Clément~14851558FrenchLa bataille (chanson)
Le chant des oiseaux (chanson)
la Rue, Pierre de~14521518Franco-FlemishO Salutaris Hostia (motet)
Requiem (mass)
Lasso, Orlando di15301594Franco-FlemishPenitential Psalms of David (choral)
~100 Magnificats (choral)
Magnum Opus Musicum (516 sacred motets)
Mouton, Jean~14591522FrenchQuaeramus cum pastoribus (voices)
Mudarra, Alonso~15101580Spanish3 Libros de musica (vihuela)
Narváez, Luis de14901547SpanishLos seys libros del Delphin (vihuela/guitar)
Music for Vihuela
Ockeghem, Johannes~14101497Franco-FlemishMissa pro Defunctis (Requiem mass)
Fors seulement l’attente (chanson)
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
 ML410 .P15
1525 1594ItalianMissa Papae Marcelli (mass)
O Magnum Mysterium (motet)
Paolo da Firenze~13551436ItalianBenedicamus Domino (2 voices)
Madrigals (voices)
Paumann, Conrad~14101473GermanO rosa bella (3 voices)
Buxheimer Orgelbuch (organ)
Praetorius, Hieronymus15601629GermanCantiones Sacrae (chorus)
Joseph, lieber Joseph mein (voices)
Tallis, Thomas
 ML410 .T147
~15051585EnglishThird Mode Melody (Why fum’th in fight) (4 voices)
Puer natus est nobis (Christmas mass)
Taverner, John~14901545EnglishDum Transisset Sabbatum (motet)
The Western Wynde Mass
Tye, Christopher~1505~1572EnglishThe Actes of the Apostles (4 voices)
Euge Bone Mass
Verdelot, Philippe~1480~1532FrenchQuanto sia liet’ il giorno (4 voices)
Wolkenstein, Oswald von13771445GermanGeistliche und weltliche Lieder (voices)