Choral singing in Europe developed through the centuries. While various forms of musical expression were explored, systems for notating music developed slowly. Composers, secular and sacred, searched for innovative ways to express themselves musically. Traditions in one style or era were explored and developed in other periods. Not bound up with the traditions of any one country, choral music and its composition flourished.

We can follow its history through the historical eras which have all contributed to the rich heritage and various music styles in evidence today.

Styles are separated into historical eras as follows;

Medieval - (450 to 1450)

Renaissance - (1450 to 1600)

Baroque - (1600 to 1760)

Classical - (1730 to 1820)

Romantic - (1815 to 1910)

20th Century - (1900 to 2000)

Contemporary (1975 to present)

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For information on the history of choral music, visit the following sites;

Wikipedia – Free on-line encyclopaedia – History of Choral Music
Wikipedia is a free on-line encyclopaedia – all you ever wanted to know about choral singing.

The Internet Public Library - Music History 102
A Guide to Western Composers and their Music from the Middle Ages to the Present.

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For a more general journey into the history of music, visit the following sites;

The Essentials of Music
Basic information about classical music. Biographies of seventy composers, overview of the six main periods in Western music, and a glossary of terms.

The Classical Music Pages
This site has almost everything you need concerning classical music. It is designed to be of use for everyone from beginners to the music professional - decide for yourself how deeply you follow the links.

The Classical Net
The purpose of this home page is to provide a point-of-entry into various informational files about classical music, as well as links to other interesting web sites.

Music Notes - Oracle Library – Think Quest
Described as ‘An Interactive Online Musical Experience’, this detailed and well-researched Web site covers many aspects of music, including music theory and history, musical styles, music professions, and musical instruments. There is also a glossary of musical terms and a list of the resources used to create the site. Interactive games allow you to test your knowledge.

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