Composers of Early Music

Composers who worked in classical and medieval times.

• Philippe de Vitry (born 1291, died 1361)

  French composer, poet and musical theorist.

  • Established many of the conventions used in musical notation
• Guillaume de Machaut (died 1377)

  French clergyman and composer of polyphonic vocal music.

  • Author of the largest body of medieval musical works still in existence
• Johannes Ciconia (died 1411)

  Dutch composer and musical theorist.

  • Known for his writings on musical development
• Oswald von Wolkenstein (born 1377, died 1445)

  German songwriter.

  • His songs incorporated many regional influences
• Conrad Pauman (born 1410, died 1474)

  German organist and lute composer who was blind from birth.

  • Wrote an influential instructional work on organs