Publisher's Synopsis
One of the most dramatic turning points in the history of music occurred at the beginning of the 17th century, with Italy leading the way. While the stile Antico, the universal polyphonic style of the 16th century, continued, it was henceforth reserved for sacred music, while the stile Moderno, or nuove musiche-with its emphasis on solo voice, the polarity of the melody and the bass line, and interest in expressive harmony-developed for secular usage. The expanded vocabulary allowed for a clearer distinction between sacred and secular music as well as between vocal and instrumental idioms, and national differences became more pronounced.
