Selva di varia ricreatione (1590) by Orazio Vecchi (review)

Abstract

VECCHI'S SELVA DI VARIA RICREATIONOrazio Vecchi. Selva di varia ricreatione (1590). Edited by Paul Schleuse. 1 vol. plus parts and supplement. (Recent Researches in Music of Renaissance, 157.) Middleton, WI: A-R Editions, 2012. [Vol. 1: Contents, p. v-vi; acknowledgments, p. vii; introd., p. ix-xx; texts and translations, p. xxi-xxxix; facsims., 8 p.; dedication, p. 3-4; score, p. 5-240; crit. report, p. 241-45. Parts: canto, alto, tenore, quinto, basso (for nos. 11 and 24 only). Supplement: Contents, p. iii; introd., p. v-vi; score, p. 1-25. ISBN-13 978-0-89579-733-9. $200 (main vol.), $8 (parts), $20 (suppl.).]Arguably one of most fascinating composers of late sixteenth century, Orazio Vecchi (1550-1605) has been subject of numerous studies in past few years. These include some forty essays in two collections published in 2007 and 2010, respectively (Alessandra Chiarelli and Ferdinando Taddei, eds., Il theatro dell'udito: Societa, musica, storia e cultura nell'epoca di Orazio Vecchi [Modena: Mucchi, 2007]; and Massimo Privitera, ed., Theatro dell'udito, theatro del mondo: Atti del convegno internazionale nel IV centenario della morte di Orazio Vecchi, Modena-Vignola, 29 settembre-1 ottobre 2005 [Modena: Mucchi, 2010]). Paul Schleuse has been at forefront of this new wave of scholarship on Vecchi. He has contributed an essay to one of abovementioned volumes (On Origin of Work 'A diversi linguaggi,' in Theatro dell'udito [2010], 121-44), and has produced an excellent dissertation on Vecchi's Selva di varia ricreatione (Genre and Meaning in Orazio Vecchi's 'Selva di varia ricreatione' (1590) [Ph.D. diss., City University of New York, 2005]). His newly published edition of Selva stems directly from his doctoral research, and constitutes a useful tool for scholars and performers interested in Vecchi's output.As Schleuse points out in short introduction that opens his edition, Selva di varia ricreatione marked a cornerstone in Vecchi's compositional career. In 1570s and 1580s, Vecchi's works were published in generic collections, that is, volumes containing compositions of a single genre. Most notably, Vecchi produced several books of canzonettas, which were reprinted numerous times and granted him an outstanding reputation in Italy and beyond Alps. First published in 1590 by Venetian firm of Angelo Gardano, Selva di varia ricreatione was Vecchi's first collection of works of varied genres. In years to come, he would produce three more collections of this kind, namely L'Amfiparnaso and Convito musicale, both published in 1597, and Le veglie di Siena, published in 1604. Vecchi himself explained in dedication of book that choice of title was not casual, as word selva (forest) was supposed to hint at forest-like size and variety of collection. As Schleuse remarks, in choosing word selva Vecchi drew on classical tradition of Latin humanistic works of miscellaneous content, which often bore title of silvae (p. xii). This tradition was revived in sixteenth century and extended to volumes containing vernacular texts of varied genres or by different authors.In accordance with meaning of its title, Selva di varia ricreatione contains thirtyseven compositions-far more than typical book of madrigals or canzonettas, which on average includes between twenty to thirty pieces. These compositions belong to a great variety of genres, which, as Vecchi himself pointed out, encompass the serious, humorous, and dancelike (p. xii). Among others, they include madrigals, capricci, balli, arie, giustiniane, and dialoghi.The scoring of these works varies considerably as well, extending from three to ten voices. Furthermore, one of pieces, Saltarello detto Trivella, is textless and is intended for stringed instruments (Per sonare con gli stromenti da corda), while at least twelve more are suitable for instrumental accompaniment, as suggested by lute tablatures included in 1590 edition of Selva. …