Book Description

The only systematic survey of its kind! The great composers of the sixteenth century—Palestrina, Victoria, des Pres, Lassus, and Morales—employed a common body of techniques in their approach to ecclesiastical art music before the development of harmony. Now available from Waveland Press, this systematic survey of examples of their music stresses these similarities, thereby helping musicians to master the techniques of sixteenth-century counterpoint. Since the basis of mastery lies in the ability to understand and to write in two and three voices, the editors have included twenty-six examples of two-voice writing and twenty-seven examples of three-voice writing. Samples of four- and five-voice writing, as well as larger, multi-movement Masses, have been included for more advanced students. Identification of sources, commentary, and translations are provided at the end of the collection.