The Acoustic Platform of Mature Chromatic Style in the Italian Madrigal of the 16th Century

Main Article Content

Vladislav E. Devutsky

Abstract

The article provides a historical reconstruction of the specific intonation problems in the Italian chromatic madrigal of the 16th century. It shows that there were real possibilities to combine a natural pitch and developed chromatic scale (Luca Marenzio, Carlo Gesualdo, Claudio Monteverdi). The author’s method suggests building a special interval score (in cents) that leads to some recommendations concerning intonation. Such microintonational system requires the introduction into musical practice of four kinds of semitones. Their combinations can form various kinds of concrete chromatic scales which lead to creation of beautiful sound of natural intervals and chords.

Keywords: madrigal, performing of madrigal, natural pitch, temperament pitch, microchromatics, Gesualdo, Marenzio

Article Details

How to Cite
Devutsky, V. E. (2010). The Acoustic Platform of Mature Chromatic Style in the Italian Madrigal of the 16th Century. Music Scholarship / Problemy Muzykal’noj Nauki, (2), 32–38. Retrieved from https://musicscholar.ru/index.php/PMN/article/view/547
Section
Musical Language in its Historic Evolution
Author Biography

Vladislav E. Devutsky, Voronezh State Academy of Arts

Doctor of Musical Arts, Professor of Music Theory

References

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