Chromaticism in the Italian madrigal of the late 16th century and the early 17th century
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Abstract
This study discusses the use of musica ficta, and the harmonic and melodic aspects of chromaticism as found in examples of the madrigal in the late 16th century and the early 17th century. Aspects of the Italian madrigal and the levelopment of musica ficta are shown as a basis for the study of chromaticism. It shows that the chromaticism of the late Italian Madrigal is the fruition of experimentation with accidentals within the framework of polyphony and the modal system. Many factors enter into the development of this chromatic usage. The first accidental in Western music, Bb was carried over from the Greek modes. In the hexachordal system of the llth century, there were designations for B (b) and Bb (b). The sharp and natural signs evolved from the former, while the flat sign is still very similar to the latter. [TRUNCATED]
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Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University
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Based on investigation of the BU Libraries' staff, this work is free of known copyright restrictions.