BRUEGHEL, Jan the Elder
(b. ca. 1568, Brussel, d. 1625, Antwerpen)

The Sense of Hearing (detail)

1618
Oil on panel
Museo del Prado, Madrid

Western music, as we know it, begins with the Renaissance. Since no Greek or Roman music survives, there were no classical models to follow. The design of instruments, especially keyboards and strings, was improved, and a galaxy of composers, such as Orlando Lassus and Josquin des Préz exploited these resources to make music more complex, personal and passionate.




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