III. Diminution Diminution occurs when larger notes are broken into many parts by the smaller ones in motion. The which must not...

Dowland’s Translation: ‘Every man lives after his owne humour; neither are all men governed by the same lawes, and divers Nations have...

‘But the greatest Difficulty is to sound every Note according to its due Measure of Time; and here it is that the Singers in most Country...

‘Then out the People yawl an hundred Parts, Some roar, some whine, some creak like the Wheels of Carts; Such Notes the Gam-ut yet did...

Davids Psalms sung in our English Meeter differ much from Cathedrall singing, which is so abominable, in which is sung almost every...

‘Singing exercises that last too long and involve too much effort make the voice screeching, cause the voice to go out of tune, and are...

‘The loudness or softness, especially on long and serious notes, must be observed even by those who sing the supporting voices [not the...

‘Suitable voices for the middle, or counter part are rather difficult to find; but let no-one, for that reason, attempt it with a feigned...

‘In honour of immortal God, the Supreme Pontiff Nicholas V filled the most sumptuous sanctuary that he had erected among the papal courts...

‘To Marcus Pabius Quintilianus You would think but slightly, my dear Fabius, of all these [the accomplishments of the citharists], if,...

‘The Cathedral bell is striking two, and in the passage boys scud to and fro shouting “Practice!" and racing to their places in the...

‘Whether descant may be commendable in the divine service, and of certain things which ought to be eschewed in song. Like as it is...

This kind [the motet] of all others which are made on a ditty [text], requireth most art, and moveth and causeth most strange effects in...

‘The common singing-men in cathedral churches are a bad society, and yet a company of good fellows, that roar deep in the quire, deeper...

‘In setting these vowels, composers are advised that some, such as a, o, and u, are amenable to runs in the low registers and support the...

The repugnance which the Italians have for strong and loud voices, such as our own baritones [basse-tailles] and even haute-contres...