Monteverdi and the End of the Renaissance [Paperback]

Gary Tomlinson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0520069803 | ISBN-13: 978-0520069800 | Publication Date: July 9, 1990

Combining a close study of Monteverdi's secular works with recent research on late Renaissance history, Gary Tomlinson places the composer's creative career in its broad cultural context and illuminates the state of Italian music, poetry, and ideology in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Working at a time of great conflict between the old scholastic and the new humanist traditions, Monteverdi was subject to influences not only musical but cultural, as represented by changing poetic and ideological thought (especially of the divergent Petrachan and Marinist schools). Tomlinson shows how these influences contributed to the composer's musical and philosophical development. Books on Monteverdi abound, but none from this vantage point. While scholarly, the work is fluent, attractive, and intelligible in style and contains both useful footnotes and an extensive bibliography. Illuminated capitals at the start of each chapter add to the pleasure of handling this beautifully presented book. Recommended for music libraries. Philippa Kiraly, Cleveland, Ohio
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"In a manner worthy of the comprehensive power of Claudio Monteverdi's own musical intelligence, musicologist Gary Tomlinson has united in this extraordinary and provocative interdisciplinary study the skills of an astute historian with those of a sensitive literary scholar and perceptive music critic." -- Barbara R. Hanning, American Historical Review

"The scholarship underlying Monteverdi and the End of the Renaissance is breathtaking. Tomlinson's control of the literature, ancient and modern, on both Italian Renaissance music and poetry is formidable. . . . It is distinguished, moreover, by crystalline prose; elegance as well as accuracy of translations (which are unfailingly provided with the originals); helpfulness of documentation. . . ; music examples adroitly chosen to illuminate and undergird analytic comments; and generosity in acknowledging the work of other scholars." -- H. Wiley Hitchcock, Renaissance Quarterly

"[A] very stimulating overview of Monteverdi's work." -- John Whenham, Times Higher Education Supplement

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (July 9, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520069803
• ISBN-13: 978-0520069800
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wise and profound approach to Monteverdi's music, May 13, 2007

By 

Paulo De T. Cambraia "Paulo de Tarso Salles" (Sao Paulo, SP Brazil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Monteverdi and the End of the Renaissance (Paperback)

Tomlinsom is an expert on Renaissance music and his writing is clear and sharp, with no obstrusive academicism. This book reveals a lot of information about music and life in 16th and 17th centuries.