1490s in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the 1490s.

Events

The Renaissance was in full swing by now, and many new musical styles were being created, including the motet and madrigal. Music left an emphasis on chanting and simple melodies to polyphony and homophony. The Renaissance is considered by some to be the birth of modern music.

Works

• 1497 – Josquin des Prez – Nymphes des bois

Births

• 1496 – Johann Walter, German composer (died 1570)
• 1499 – Bernardino de Sahagún, Spanish composer (died 1571)

Deaths

• November 6, 1492 – Antoine Busnois, composer and poet of the Burgundian School
• February 6, 1497 – Johannes Ockeghem, composer of the Franco-Flemish School