Name: Synopsis of Vocal Musick by A.B. Philo-Mus.
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ISBN: 9780754635055

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Contents: Preface
Introduction. Synopsis of Vocal Musick: The preface
Epistola Dedicatoria
Of Vocal Musick in general
Of the Notes
Of the Pricks
Of the Pauses
Of the Signs of the Common Time
Of the slower Triple
Of the Swifter Triple
Of the Swiftest Triple
Of the slower Sesquialtre
Of the Swifter Sesquialtre
Of the Swiftest Sesquialtre
Of the Systems
Of the Bars, and Repeats
Of the Cliffs
Of the Use of Cliffs in respect of Voices
Of the Use of Cliffs in respect of Notes
Of the Syllables
Of the Scale of Musick
Of the Order of the Generation of the Degrees
Of the Intervals of the Degrees
Of the agreeableness of the Cliffs and Syllables with the Degrees of the Scale of Musick
Of the generation of an Eighth in b flat
Of the lesser principal and secondary contained signs
Of the signs of the breadth of sounds, and of things
Of the signs of the Ornaments of Songs
Of the second Mean to attain the Art of Musick. Twelve Most Usual Tunes of Psalms: In Three Parts. Treble, Mean, and Bass
Twelve Selected English Tunes in Three Parts. Two Trebles and a Bass
Twelve Selected English Catches A. 3. Voc. Composed by sundry Authors
Fourteen Italian Songs Composed by Giovanni Giacomo Castoldi da Carravaggio
Notes
Critical commentary
Appendix
Bibliography
Index.

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Synopsis of Vocal Musick, by the unidentified A.B., was published in London in 1680 and appears to have only ever had one edition. Its relatively short shelf-life belies its importance to the history of early British music theory. Unlike other English theoretical writings of the period, the Synopsis derives many of its aspects from the continental theoretical tradition, including the first references in English theory to the modern fractional time signatures that had been invented in Italy in the mid-seventeenth century, the first references in English to compound time and the first explanations of tempo terms such as Adagio and Presto. In these respects the treatise forms an important link between English and continental theoretical traditions and may have encouraged the adoption of Italian principles which became a common feature of English writings by the early eighteenth century. The treatise is essentially in two parts. The first section of the book comprises rudimentary instruction on understanding notation and intervals, descriptions of common vocal ornaments and instruction in the process of learning to sing. The second part consists of a selection of psalms, songs and catches which are provided as exercises for the singer, though several of them require a reasonably advanced degree of skill. These pieces provide valuable insight into the way both sacred and secular music might have been performed by amateur musicians in the Restoration period. They include 14 rare English madrigal settings by the Italian composer Gastoldi - further evidence of the Italian influence which pervades the text. This is the first modern edition of the Synopsis, and indeed the first edition to appear since its original publication.

ISBN: 9780754635055 (0754635058)

Reviews

Studies In Musical Theatre

Overall, the book is an excellent edition and examination of this neglected treatise, and one that has a broader relevance to musical scholarship than might be anticipated. Anyone with an interest in seventeenth-century musical culture would benefit from reading this well-organized and thoughtful presentation of the Synopsis of Vocal Musick. The text is elegantly written and engaging, the edition itself is a fascinating insight into the expectations of the novice singer of the period

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