Franchinus Gafurius
The "Practica musicae" of Franchinus Gafurius.
The University of Wisconsin Press, 1969. First edition. Translated and edited with musical transcriptions by Irwin Young. xxvi/273 pages.
Volume, measuring approximtely 6.75" x 9.75", is bound in light blue cloth, with stamped silver lettering to spine. Book displays light shelfwear. Binding is firm. Previous owner's bookplate is pasted to front flyleaf. Interior is clean and bright. Price-clipped dust jacket exhibits light shelfwear.
"The High Renaissance in northern Italy was a crucial period in the development of the music of western civilization. The Pythagorean definition of interval in terms of precise mathematical  ratio, concepts of tuning, the controversy between ratio and the "errant" senses -- all were coming under increasing scrutiny as music grew more remote from classical theory. Franchinus Gafurius' "Practica musicae" recognized both innovation and tradition in summarizing musical theory and practice, and more than any other work of its period, helped bridge the gap between music as a philosophical science and musicas as a secular art. One of the most eminent authorities of his day, Gafurius was an accomplished and fertile composer whose extant compositions include a substantial amount of music in all forms then prevalent. His three major theoretical works -- "Theorica," "Practica," and "De harmonia" -- comprise a complete and unified course of instruction in music theory and practice as it had evolved  both from ancient and medieval tradition and from the demands of performance in the late fifteenth century.
The "Practica musicae," first published in Milan in 1496, in the best single source for understanding the structure of Renaissance music. It was considered so important by Gafurius' contemporaries that it went through five editions during Gafurius' lifetime and was circulated throughout Europe."