Composers and Musicians
Bishops and Patrons
- John Chrysostom (349-407) Constantinople, Bishop. — Bishop of Constantinople who organized and promoted the 'Divine Liturgy' used as the Eucharistic service in Eastern Christendom.
- Gregory the Great (540-604) Rome, Pope. — Pope known as the ‘Father of Christian Worship’ for revising Latin liturgy and promoting sacred music.
- Charlemagne (742-814) France, Emperor. — King of Franks who united much of western Europe and promoted the Latin liturgy throughout his realms.
Scholars and Inventors
- Guido of Arezzo (991-1033) French, Scholar. — Monk of Italy and musical composer and theorist who invented modern musical notation.
- Boethius (480-524) Rome, Scholar. — Roman noble and scholar who entered the service of Theodoric the Great. Wrote a treatise on music that was the authoritative text on Ancient music methods and practices.
- Ctesibius of Alexandra (285-222 BC) Greek, Inventor. — Greek scholar and hydraulic engineer who invented the water organ, a popular music instrument used throughout the ancient world.
- Bartholomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) Italy, Inventor. — Italian instrument maker credited with inventing the Piano.
- Andrea Amati (1505-1578) Italy, Inventor. — Italian instrument maker credited with producing the first standardized violin. The Amati family were premier violin makers for over 200 years.
Composers and Musicians
- Kassia of Constantinople (805-865) — Byzantine Abbess, musician, and composer. One of the first medieval hymn writers whose works are still existant.
- Perotin the Great ( ~1200) Paris — Music teacher and composer based at Notre Dame of Paris who pioneered three and four voice polyphony.
- John Dunstable (1390-1453) England — English composer of polyphonic music who was a pioneer of the “harmonic triad”, introduced the imperfect 3rd, major and minor keys.
- Josquin de Prez (1450-1521) Flanders — Extremely influential composer of the Franco-Flemish school of the Renaissance period, wrote popular pieces using polyphonic techniques, such as triads and minor keys.
- Martin Luther (1483-1546) Germany — German Monk, musician, and composer who instituted changes to the Catholic liturgy and music in accordance with Lutheran theology and tradition.
- Giovanni Palestrina (1525-1594) Rome — Leading composer of the Renaissance era Roman before and after the Council of Trent. Renowned for reverent and dignified polyphonic compositions.
- William Byrd (1540-1623) England — Reformation era English composer who wrote sacred music and masses for the Anglican Church, but later became a Roman Catholic.
- Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) Italy — Italian priest and composer who was a transitional figure between the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Most famous for early Operas such as L’Orfeo.
- Arcangello Corelli (1653-1713) Italy — Innovative Italian composer of the Baroque era who specialized in sonatas and concertos written to emphasize the versatility of the violin.
- Henry Purcell (1659-1695) England — Popular English composer and organist who incorporated French and Italian styles into English compositions written for the Church of England.
- Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Italy — Italian priest, composer and teacher who excelled at the violin and wrote concertos using harmonic progression and advanced polyphonic technique. Famous for ‘Four Seasons’.
- Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Germany — German composer whose recognized genius in counterpoint and harmonic arrangements influenced many classical composers of the 18th and 19th centuries.
- George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) England — 18th century German-British composer known for operas, oratorios, and organ concerts. Most famous work is Messiah and Hallelujah Chorus.
Musical Saints
- St. Cecilia — Patron Saint of Music
- St. Gregory the Great — Promoted the Tradition of Gregorian Chant
- St. David, St. Patrick — Patron Patron saints of harpists
- St. Philip Neri — Working with Palestrina, originated ‘Oratorios’, scenes from scriptures, set to music.
The following Saints were hymn-writers: Jerome, Ambrose, Hilary of Poitiers, Ephraim the Syrian, Thomas Aquinas, Cassia of Constantinople, Hildegard of Bingen, St. Venatius Fortunatus, St. Andrew of Crete