Medieval music was in the timeof the middle ages. Renaissance music is the time for art and culture.
Medieval music refers to music written during the Middle Ages, around the time of 500AD - 1400. Little written music of this period survives, as making scores of music proved expensive, but most music of this time was monothonic or homorhythmic plainchant. Music from this period was generally modal and the begginings of counterpoint were seen in the form of organum. Renaissance music refers to the period from around 1400-1600, although there is some discrepancy in defining the begining of this period. Counterpoint became much more elaborate and it was over the duration of this period that composers began to leave the old modal music system in favour of tonality. Notable composers of this period are Orlando Gibbons, John Bull, Thomas Tallis and William Byrd.
