A solid grounding in musical techniques of the 17th and 18th centuries is essential to a complete understanding of Baroque music. As scholar Denis Stevens says in his introduction to this work, "Full enjoyment will come only when the soloist learns the gentle art of tasteful embellishment of a melodic line, and when continuo players learn that their role is perhaps the most important in the entire ensemble." Arnold's legendary work is a comprehensive survey of its topic, covering every issue of significance to today's performer. The text is fully amplified with numerous musical examples, authoritative citations, scholarly interpretations and syntheses, and the author's own conclusions. An inexhaustible collection of source material for the musicologist as well as an indispensable companion for conductor, editor, or performer. Volume 2 of a 2-volume set.

Product Description: Although 'Early Music' as a term of reference has now replaced 'ancient', 'old', or 'pre-classical', performance issues remain much the same as before. This book offers fresh solutions for singers, players and directors.

Re-examination of Monteverdi's work while he was Director of Music at St Mark's

Product Description: This is the first collection of Claudio Monteverdi's madrigal and song texts published in parallel Italian and English versions. Denis Steven's unique anthology ranges across four centuries of verse for music. More than thirty poets, old and new, famous and obscure, are represented here, many for the first time in English...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Describes the source materials of musicology, and explains the techniques used to study and analyze music of all periods