The Lute Music of Melchiore de Barberiis (1546-1549) with Specific Reference to Books V, IX and X

This thesis is a study of the three books of lute music by the Italian composer Melchiore de Barberiis (fl 1546, 1549). The content of the music in the books is mostly based on intabulations of vocal songs but also includes a number of dances and fantasias. In this study I have provided transcriptions of the complete contents of the three books. Intabulations of vocal pieces are examined, as well as Fantasias and dances, in order to understand the composer’s intabulation and compositional techniques. Intabulations are compared to different versions of the same pieces, where possible, and focus on the structure and the implications for musica ficta. The styles of fantasias and dances – two contrasting styles in terms of structure and harmony – are studied, with further reference to parallel pieces by other composers. In addition, the study illustrates the frequency of – what are normally regarded as harmonic – solecisms in each genre. Further comments on stylistic and idiomatic lute playing are included, as well as historiographical information in order to place Barberiis in the compositional context of his time. Moreover, excerpts from intabulations and dances are quoted and analysed, based on the theory of hexachords. The purpose of this approach associates with the idea of using musica ficta evidence found in intabulations, as a guide for performance.