Description

A thorough understanding of the musical techniques from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is crucial for a comprehensive appreciation of Baroque music. As noted by scholar Denis Stevens in his introduction to this work, true enjoyment is achieved when the soloist masters the delicate art of tasteful embellishment of a melodic line, and when continuo players recognize that their contribution is arguably the most vital within the ensemble. Arnold's esteemed work serves as an extensive examination of its subject, addressing all pertinent issues relevant to contemporary performers.

The text is richly supplemented with a variety of musical examples, authoritative references, scholarly analyses, and the author's own insights. It represents an invaluable resource for musicologists and is an essential guide for conductors, editors, and performers alike. This is an unabridged reissue of the first edition (1931), initially published by Oxford University Press, with an introduction to the Dover edition by Denis Stevens. This volume is the first of two.