Includes bibliographical references (pages 297-308) and index.
Contents:
Palestrina's Vergine cycle ; Mode in monophonic music ; Mode in polyphonic music ; Studying the history of polyphonic modality -- The discourse about mode: evidence of textual and musical sources. Thinking about mode: a "double discourse" ; Textual evidence of polyphonic modality ; Musical sources of polyphonic modality ; Appendix C: Modal cycles. Tinctoris and the origin of polyphonic modality. The earliest sources ; Legrense ; Tinctoris -- Modus and tonus: two attitudes towards modes. Uses of the modes ; Terminology ; Definitions of the modes ; Historical controversies involving the modes ; The final ; Internal and external view -- The rise and fall of polyphonic modality. A quantitative survey ; Cycles in early sources ; The interest in polyphonic modality as documented by modal cycles -- The modes before classical vocal polyphony: evidence from central-European cycles. The earliest cycles: Cochlaeus, Felsztyna, Stoltzer ; Cycles from treatises printed by Rhau and from related sources ; Sebald Heyden's modal cycles ; The dodecachordon and its cycles ; Conclusion -- Zarlino and polyphonic modality in Italy. Polyphonic modality in Zarlino's Istitutioni ; Borrowers, followers, and adversaries ; Palestrina's Vergine cycle ; Conclusion -- Conclusion: the language of modes -- Appendix A: Textual sources ; Appendix B: Musical sources ; Appendix C: Modal cycles.
Summary:
This book provides a study of modes in early music through eight essays, each dealing with a different aspects of modality. The volume codifies all known theoretical references to mode, all modally ordered musical sources, and all modally cyclic compositions. For many music students and listeners, the "language of the modes" is a deep mystery, accustomed as we are to centuries of modern harmony. The author demystifies the modal world, showing how composers and performers were able to use this structure to create compelling and beautiful works. This book will be an invaluable source to scholars of early music and music theory
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.