early music

American  

noun

1. music of the medieval, Renaissance, and early Baroque periods, especially revived and played on period instruments; European music after ancient music and before the classical music era, from the beginning of the Middle Ages to about 1750.

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early music British  

noun

1. music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, sometimes also including music of the baroque and early classical periods

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1. of or denoting an approach to musical performance emphasizing the use of period instruments and historically researched scores and playing techniques

   the early-music movement

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• early musician
  noun
• early-music
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of early music

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The list goes on, with Thomas Wilkins leading the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, acclaimed specialists in early music, new music and jazz with two more to be appointed for Latin music and film music.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

Their early music, often represented by their first full album Dark & Wild in 2014, leaned heavily on hip-hop, set to the tune of intense beats.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The animated French early music specialist Emmanuelle Haïm, the orchestra’s artistic collaborator, isn’t letting Christmas get away this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Spears had phenomenal early music success with late 1990s hits like "...Baby One More Time" but has largely stepped back from music in recent years.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

Kassia’s haunting music has recendy been recorded for the first time in a thousand years, and it rather gracefully refutes the assumption that the development of early music is exclusively the handiwork of men.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall