Books › The Violin and its Music, 1881 › scan 178
Scan 178
The Violin and its Music, 1881
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 158. See the scan on archive.org.
1editions of Petrucci in the same degree as the bibliographer does those of his contemporary Aldo Manuzio. It is, however, the great impetus this press gave to music which mainly concerns us. The same complaint must have been uttered by the lovers of music as that of the lover of books, before the invention of printing, as to the great cost and inconvenience of manuscript copies. By the aid of Petrucci composers reached the multitude, and thus caused a new life to be given to the social branch of the art.
3The publication of social vocal music, from the pens of eminent composers whose abilities had hitherto been devoted to ecclesiastical works, at once extended the cultivation of this home music. These publications were soon followed by others in connection with instruments. In 1507 and 1508 the Venetian press printed four books in tablature on the Lute, and in 1509 vocal music with tablature for Tenors and Double Bass, a fac-simile of which is given in this volume.
5This tablature appears to me to be of some historical value, since it is the earliest of the kind I have found any account of. The Tenors referred to may be Tenor Viols of the Viol da Gamba form, but I am inclined to believe the instruments indicated were the large tenors with deep sides resembling diminutive Violoncellos.* I am not aware that any of these
7* In Monteverde's Opera, L'Orfeo, mention is made of Contrabasse de Viola, and may refer to these instruments.
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