So where do I start? Wikipedia gives a little info but its pretty sparse, especially after the classical era. I want to listen to everything though. From as far back and as thorough as possible.
Apologies; I'm on mobile, so I won't be able to provide links. I recommend looking up these songs on YouTube, since they should all be there. Also, my knowledge is primarily western, so I can't speak for the musical traditions of the Americas, Africa, or the Far East.
I'll give you a few examples leading up to the Renaissance; from there, the territory is far more familiar to anyone with previous musical training.
The oldest known melody is that of the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal. However, we don't completely know what it sounds like, as the notation used did not record what key it was to be set in. It's a rather slow, almost gloomy liturgical peace from Mesopotamia.
The oldest complete music is the Epitaph of Seikilos, an Ancient Greek work composed by a man for his late wife. The lyrics espouse a concept not unlike Carpe diem - you won't live forever, so make the most of your time. The Epitaph is ridiculously catchy; I can't get enough of it, myself.
The oldest known Christian hymn is known as Phos Hilaron, or O Gladdening Light. The lyrics are attested as early as the third century, supposedly being composed by a martyr on the way to his execution. From what I understand, the Byzantine/Greek Orthodox variant of the hymn is supposed to be fairly close to the original.
Perhaps my favorite of all of these would be the Planctus de Obitu Karoli, or Lament of the Death of Charles, a beautiful and haunting Frankish funerary song for none other than Charlemagne. It's quite long, about ten minutes, but I would strongly recommend listening through the whole thing.
Finally, I'll recommend a more commonly popular work: Palästinalied, which means something like Palestine-song, a catchy, upbeat song written by a former pilgrim about his reaction to the Holy Land and ending with a call to action, claiming divine right to the territory.
I hope these give you a sort of jumping-off point. Good luck!
Hello, I am teaching a music history course and recently compiled a you-tube playlist for my students which is basically what you are asking for. Being my first submission to this sub, I hope it's acceptable!
In huge sweeping lists like these, it is always the case that there are omissions and stereotyping, so sorry to someone who thinks I left out their favorite composer. Also, I only briefly touched on the music of the Ancient world- as well as other culture's music- which some other posters have described in more detail. The later periods are slightly cello-centric, which betrays my particular area of musical training. The late 20th century and 21st century section is a particularly bare overview.
A great music history textbook is the Norton anthology of western music; I think it's in it's 9th edition now.
Ancient world, Medieval, Renaissance: origins and polyphony
Epitaph of Seikilos 200BC ish
Doumbek ancient Arabic percussion instruments spread from Asia minor to eastern Europe and Africa
Ottoman court music notated in the late 1600s by Dimitrie Cantemir- but is probably similar to Arabic and Egyptian music at this time
Hurdy gurdy Medieval drone instrument
Plainchant or "Gregorian chant" {ancient world-medieval} make holy sacred words, a composer's name is too egotistic
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) (monophonic chant) {Medieval} a woman composer! intervalic harmony only
Leonin (1135-1201) (organum) {Medieval} [first steps to harmony]
Perotin (1160-1230) {medieval} Organum
Guillome De Machaut (1300 –1377) {Early renaissance} [polyphony, consonance, dissonance resolution]
Guillaume Du Fay, "ave maris stella" (1397-1474) (Fauxbourdon) {Early renaissance} [first steps to triadic harmony and polyphony, also uses plainchant)
Josquin Des Prez (1455-1521) "miserere mei deus" {renaissance} (high renaissance polyphany) [word clarity, modes, triads, polyphony]
Thomas Tallis (1510-1585) {renaissance} [high renaissance polyphany, "proper" chord progressions]
Orlande De Lassus (1530-1594) {renaissance franco-flemish school} motets
Giovanni Palestrina "O Magnum Mysterium" (1525-1594) {Italian Renaissance] {Late renaissance polyphany}
Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613) {Italian Renaissance} composer-aristocrat combo led to maverick harmonic techniques. Madrigal composer, about which there are many crazy stories.
John Dowland (1563- 1626) "flow my tears" {Renaissance/Elizabethan} [weepy songs, in English, and polyphony
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) {renaissance-baroque} [spans renaissance style and baroque functional harmony]
William Byrd (1543-1623)
Giovanni Gabrieli (1553-1612)