Musical Discourse in Italy, 1500-1800

The Cambridge History of Music Criticism is the first study of music criticism on this scale, and is intended to become the standard reference work in this growing area of investigation. My chapter considers musical discourse in Italy between 1500-1800. It surveys writings on music in various different guises, including a discussion of previously-neglected musical correspondence and summarises the beginning of 'true' music criticism towards the end of the period