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Abstract

Ottavio Durante's Arie devote (Rome, 1608) is a collection of sacred monody in the style of Caccini's Le nuove musiche. The preface strongly affirms the use of the stile nuovo in church music in terms that reflect the spirit of the Counter-Reformation. Durante's preface also contains significant information on performance practice in early monody. Although most of his ideas are borrowed directly from Caccini, some points relate specifically to the application of the new style to liturgical music. Besides the ornaments found in Le nuove musiche, Durante describes the combination of a crescendo and a portamento on certain ascending semitones and advises the use of a crescimento on every dotted note.

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