Ganassi workshop SCB
Modo & practica del diminuire
Diminutions in Sylvestro Ganassi’s Fontegara (1535)
by Vicente Parrilla
SCB, January 22–23, 2020
Overview
- Introduction
- Contents
2.1 Introducing “Ganassi Fontegara Numbered” (GFN)
2.2 Repertoire - Lessons format
- Questions?
1. Introduction
“Altro non e diminuire che variare la cosa over processo che di natura se dimostra soda: e semplice.”
—Silvestro Ganassi, Fontegara (1535), chap. 9.
As it is well known, Ganassi’s treatise Fontegara (1535), despite being the largest known repository of embellishing formulas from the Renaissance, is devoid of actual musical pieces. This fact poses two main questions for today’s performers: we can’t know with certainty the exact repertory Ganassi may have applied his diminutions to. And, at the same time, the lack of embellished pieces by the author deprives us of models that we could take as examples when trying to follow his instructions to embellish new pieces. However, a close exam of his published works gives numerous hints in both directions.
This workshop will explore the possibility to bring back to life the myriad of melodic formulas (known as divisions or diminutions) contained in Ganassi’s 1535 publication through the analysis of the main questions and problems related to this practice and hands-on training, including demonstrations and case studies.
2. Contents
2.1 Introducing “Ganassi Fontegara Numbered” (GFN)
A system for precisely locating items in Fontegara to facilitate research, analysis, and practical use of its contents.
- Download PDF with OCR from archive.org:
- Download PDF from IMSLP.org:
Read more: please visit this link for an explanation of the GFN cataloguing system.
2.2 Repertoire
Students are encouraged to prepare their own embellished pieces after Ganassi. But in case it helps, they could perform some of the already-made diminutions prepared by me (see table below).
Suggested repertoire. Embellished pieces by VP:
| Composer | Title | Form | PDF score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marchetto Cara | Chi me dara piu pace | Frottola a 3 | link |
| B. Tromboncino | Per dolor me bagno il viso | Frottola a 3 | link |
| Philippe Verdelot | Igno soave | Madrigal a 4 | link |
| Philippe Verdelot | Madonna per voi ardo | Madrigal a 4 | link |
| P. Regnault dit Sandrin | Doulce Memoire | Chanson a 4 | link |
3. Lessons format
- Introductory lecture
- Individual lessons
- Recorder consort lessons
- Other chamber music settings
4. Questions?
Questions, suggestions? Feel free to contact me.
—VP