A study of Giovanni Battista Bovicelli's Regole, passaggi di musica

Kristy van Dijk

Exposition

A study of Giovanni Battista Bovicelli's Regole, passaggi di musica (2025)

Kristy van Dijk

open exposition

About this exposition

This research examines Giovanni Battista Bovicelli’s Regole, passaggi di musica (Venice, 1594), a Renaissance treatise on (vocal) ornamentation. By analyzing Bovicelli’s diminutions, this research aims to identify his characteristic stylistic elements as a composer and singer. Beyond defining these elements, the findings provide a solid foundation for comparing his style with that of Giovanni Bassano, previously studied, and for applying Bovicelli’s techniques in newly written diminutions. More broadly, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of late 16th-century Italian diminution practice. Bovicelli’s treatise offers information for singers about text placement, presents examples of diminutions for various intervals, cadences, and melodic contexts, and includes his own diminuted lines of well-known pieces of the time. This research focuses specifically on the examples of diminutions, analyzing them according to seven musical criteria: note values, range, intervals, melodic sequences, rhythmic patterns and/or sequences, standard figures such as trills and turns, and ficta application. Additionally, in cadences and melodic contexts, the extent to which the original melody is preserved is assessed. The results of this analysis are presented in tables and graphs for a clear overview. Additionally, the research includes a comparative analysis of Bovicelli’s and Bassano’s diminution styles, clarifying both their individual characteristics and, very carefully, broader trends in 16th-century Italian diminution practice. Furthermore, newly composed diminutions in Bovicelli’s style demonstrate the practical application of the findings. These diminutions are written on the well-known Anchor che col partire by Cipriano de Rore (1516-1565).

type	research exposition
keywords	16thcentury, diminutions, historically informed performance
date	10/01/2024
published	22/05/2025
last modified	22/05/2025
status	published
share status	private
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2321557/3179068
doi	https://doi.org/10.22501/koncon.2321557
published in	KC Research Portal
portal issue	1. Master Research Projects

References

Bent, Margaret, and Alexander Silbiger, “Musica Ficta”, 2001 <https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/display/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000019406?rskey=KsBsjV&result=2#omo-9781561592630-e-0000019406-div1-0000019406.4>
Bovicelli, Giovanni Battista, Regole, Passagi Di Musica, Madrigali E Moretti (Venice: Giacomo Vincenti, 1594)
Cohan, Alexis, “The Renaissance Recorder: Resembling the Human Voice”, Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity, Volume Six 2019–2020 (Methodist University, 2019), pp. 29-38
D. Bent, Ian, David W. Huges, Robert C. Provine, Richard Rastall, and Anne Kilmer, “Notation” <https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/display/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000020114?rskey=7Rv35F&result=7> [accessed 22 February 2025]
Dickey, Bruce, “Ornamentation in Sixteenth-Century Music”, in A Performer’s Guide to Renaissance Music, ed. by Jeffery Kite-Powell (Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2007), pp. 300-325
Donington, Robert, “Chapter V, Interpreting Written Accidentals”, in The Interpretation of Early Music, ed. by Robert Donington (London, Boston: Faber and Faber, 1977), p. 138
Godt, Irving, “Style Periods of Music History Considered Analytically” <https://symposium.music.org/24/item/1975-style-periods-of-music-history-considered-analytically.html> [accessed 19 November 2024]
Heikens, Henny, “Personal Communication”, 2023
Honea, Sion M, “Regole Passaggi Di Musica (1594). Avertimenti Per Li Passaggi. Translated by Sion M. Honea” <https://www.kastrat.se/_doc/bovicelli%201594%20complete.pdf> [accessed 12 January 2025]
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Lasocki, David, “Instruction Books and Methods for the Recorder from Around 1500 to the Present Day”, in The Cambridge Companion to the Recorder, ed. by John Mansfield Thomson (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995), pp. 119-23
Martínez Ayerza, María, “Personal Communication”, 2025
McGee, Timothy J, Medieval and Renaissance Music: A Performer’s Guide (Cambridge: Scholar Press, 1990)
Mead, Sarah, “Renaissance Theory”, in A Performer’s Guide to Renaissance Music, ed. by Jeffery Kite-Powell (Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2007), pp. 343-73
Nelleke, Bernard, Eenvoudige Algemene Muziekleer (Hillegom: Edition Heuwekemeijer, 1981)
Rostirolla, Giancarlo, “Regole, Passaggi Di Musica (1594), Translated by Jesse Rosenberg, Introduction by Giancarlo Rostirolla”, Historic Brass Journal, Volume 4 (Historic Brass Society, Inc., 1992), pp. 27-44
Rowland-Jones, Anthony, “The Recorder’s Medieval and Renaissance Repertoire: A Commentary”, in The Cambridge Companion to the Recorder, ed. by John Mansfield Thomson and Anthony Rowland-Jones (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), pp. 26–50
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S. Powers, Harold, “Hypodorian” <https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/display/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000013660?rskey=FvjTl5&result=1> [accessed 21 February 2025]
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Copyrights

name	Introduction
copyright	Pixelchicken
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Duo van Dijk - Schreiner _HR_ © Foppe Schut _S232562
copyright	Foppe Schut
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	eduarduslee_20220904_royal_wind_music_013
copyright	Eduardus Lee
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Background information
copyright	Pixelchicken
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Bovicelli intervallen
copyright	-
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Chiavi naturali, chiavette
copyright	Peter Van Heyghen
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	General analysis
copyright	Pixelchicken
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Note values
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	A study of Giovanni Battista Bovicelli’s Regole, passaggi di musica, madrigali e motetti passegiatti (Venice, 1594)-2
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Criteria and analisys
copyright	Pixelchicken
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Note values
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Standaard figuren
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Bovicelli Analysis - Kristy van Dijk - Appendix
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	pdf

name	Abstract
copyright	Pixelchicken
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name	Note values diagram 2
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Range
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Intervals 2
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Standard figures 2
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Dotted notes scheme 3
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Example 1
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
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name	Example 2
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
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name	Example 3
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
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name	Bovicelli's Accenti
copyright	Indiana University Press
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Double cadence
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Voorbeeld e sharp
copyright	Bovicelli
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	B or b flat?
copyright	Bovicelli
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	raddoppiate
copyright	Bruce Dickey
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Dorian 4
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Findings and discussion
copyright	Pixelchicken
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usages	picture

name	conclusions
copyright	Pixelchicken
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	ontents
copyright	Pixelchicken
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	diminutions
copyright	Pixelchicken
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Bovicelli diminutions - Full Score
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	pdf

name	Anchor Che Co'l Partire - Cipriano de Rore
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Anchor Che Col Partire thumbnail Duo Helia
copyright	Kristy van Dijk
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

comments: 1 (last entry by Bart van Oort - 05/03/2025 at 11:59)

Bart van Oort 05/03/2025 at 11:59

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A study of Giovanni Battista Bovicelli's Regole, passaggi di musica (2025)

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