This is a list of classical music composers by era. With the exception of the overview, the Modernist era has been combined with the Postmodern. Composers with a career spanning across more than one time period are colored in between their two respective eras.

Overview

Medieval era

See List of Medieval composers and Medieval music.

Renaissance era

See List of Renaissance composers and Renaissance music.

Baroque era

See List of Baroque composers and Baroque music.

Classical era

See List of Classical era composers and Classical period (music).

Romantic era

See List of Romantic-era composers and Romantic music.

20th century/contemporary/modern/postmodern

See List of 20th-century classical composers and 20th-century classical music.

21st century/postmodern