The orchestra and its instruments . and Cremonese-makers were very busyin these days turning out new models; and, as helived in the region of the great violin-makers, Mon-teverde saw every new model as it left the hands ofMaggini or The idea had dawned upon himof mixing his instruments — our modern Orchestra wasbeginning! We must not imagine, however, that Monteverdewas the only great musician of the day, though hewas the most popular composer in Europe. Florence, Venice and Rome, to say nothing of allthe smaller cities, had their operas, ballets andmusical-contests. Rome was very acti
The orchestra and its instruments . and Cremonese-makers were very busyin these days turning out new models; and, as helived in the region of the great violin-makers, Mon-teverde saw every new model as it left the hands ofMaggini or The idea had dawned upon himof mixing his instruments — our modern Orchestra wasbeginning! We must not imagine, however, that Monteverdewas the only great musician of the day, though hewas the most popular composer in Europe. Florence, Venice and Rome, to say nothing of allthe smaller cities, had their operas, ballets andmusical-contests. Rome was very active. And, more-over, there was a great musical educator in Rome,whose name was Vergilio Mazzocchi (1593-1646), whowas one of Monteverdes contemporaries. He wasmaestro di capella in St. John Laterans and in It will give us an idea of how seriouslymusic was studied in those days if we remember whatMazzocchi required and what extraordinarily pro-ficient pupils he sent out from his school. They could 1 See pages 49 and 00 I— 3 o O:3 THE ORCHESTRA 149 sing, play instruments, compose and write musicaldramas and ballets; they could read music at sightand copy it; and they were also well trained in litera-ture. Few of us would care for a day like this: — In the morning—an hour to singing difficultexercises; an hour to the study of literature; an hourto practise singing before a mirror so as not to makedisgraceful faces. In the evening — half an hour totheory; half an hour to the study of counterpoint;an hour to composition; and an hour to Iiterature.,,The rest of the day was devoted to practice on theclavecin, to composing for pleasure, and taking a walkin the open air. Pupils were also sent to the theatre andconcerts, so that they could hear and study celebratedsingers and performers; and they had to write anaccount of their impressions! Poor young things!A busy schedule for work and pleasure! About this time an opera by Stefano Landi wasproduced in Rome (1632
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