early music

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.

noun

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

adjective early-music

2. of or denoting an approach to musical performance emphasizing the use of period instruments and historically researched scores and playing techniquesthe early-music movement