Liturgical Music and Liturgical Experience in Early Modern Italy

Our knowledge of liturgical music in early modern Italy, and early modern Europe in general, is surprisingly poor, based as it is on outdated visions that do not correspond to historical reality. Clearcut oppositions such as monody versus polyphony, free rhythm versus mensuration, sacred music versus secular music do not represent the perception and experience of early modern Catholics. This paper shows some neglected evidence on the liturgical practices and musical customs of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, especially regarding plainchant and cantus fractus in their relationship with polyphony and organ music. Consequently, sheds new light on the effects of the decisions of the Council of Trent in the living liturgical practice.