Studies in Florentine Music History During the Reign of Ferdinando I de'Medici

FAIN: FB-10534-70

J. Warren Kirkendale
Duke University (Durham, NC 27705-4677)

Study of music in the reign of Ferdinando I de'Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1588-1609), and important era in Florentine music since it saw the emergence of baroque monody and the earliest operas. ABSTRACT: Study of music in the reign of Ferdinando I de'Medici, Grand duke of Tuscany (1588-1609), generally regarded as the most significant era in Florentine music history, since it saw the emergence of baroque monody (a style of music composition in which one part or voice dominates and the other serve as accompaniment) and the earlies operas. Several thousand documents in the Florentine State Archives permit complete reconstruction of the musical establishment at the Medici court and provide new biographical information on 135 musicians. The central part of the study is the biography of Emilio de'Cavalieri, Roman nobleman, diplomat, composer, and general director of artistic affairs at the court of Ferdinando I.