ON THE

HARMONIC

DEMONSTRATIONS

BY THE REVEREND

MASTER GIOSEFFO ZARLINO

OF CHIOGGIA, CHOIRMASTER

OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS SIGNORIA

OF VENICE.

First Discussion.

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A large decorative woodcut drop cap 'G' containing an illustration of a man, likely a scholar or theologian, seated at a desk with an open book, set against an architectural backdrop with a window view.

THE YEARS of our salvation had already reached the number
1562 original: "M D L X I I.", and it was the month of April: when the Most Illustrious
Lord Don Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara—for the purpose of
seeing a beautiful, noble, and rich city, which is not only the glory, splen-
dor, and reputation of beautiful Italy, but also of all Christendom,
and perhaps for other business of importance—came to Venice.
Whereupon he was received by our Most Illustrious Venetian Lords with the most solemn
pomp and royal preparations, as is their custom when receiving all
persons of high affairs. This Lord had brought with
him the best musicians who were to be found in his service: among whom (leaving
aside the others to avoid being long-winded) was Francesco Viola, his choirmaster Maestro di Capella: the director of music for a cathedral or royal court and my singular
friend. This man, having come to find me one day and having taken me into his company, we set out
toward the most beautiful Piazza San Marco. Finding his famous and rich
temple Referring to St Mark's Basilica open—which is built of beautiful and finest marbles with a great abundance of columns—and because
it was already the hour for Vespers, we entered it. Feeding our sight for a good
stretch of time with the beautiful paintings found there, worked by good and excellent masters of
ancient and modern mosaic, we walked together discussing their beauty and the rich-
ness of the said Temple, and the great expense the aforementioned Most Illustrious Lords
bestow upon it; as those who have always been religious and devoted to God, to adorn it with those
things they see to be necessary and fitting to bring beauty, decorum, and majesty to the
Divine worship. But while we were walking and discussing many things with great pleasure,
Vespers having already finished, there appeared the most refined Master Claudio Merulo of Correggio,
the most sweet-sounding organist of the said temple. When he saw us and approached us,
recognizing Viola, after they had embraced one another, we sat down.
Because we had discussed many worthy and honored things for a while, as the place required,
having decided to depart, we all with one mind took the
path toward Master Adrian Willaert original: "M. Adriano Vuilaert", then Choirmaster of the Most Illustrious Signoria The governing body of the Republic of Venice,
who lived a short distance away. We intended to visit him, because, being troubled by gout original: "podagre", he
did not leave his house; we hoped that the presence of so many of his loving and dearest friends might bring
him some relief. When we had arrived, we found that the above-
named Lord The Duke of Ferrara had been to see him a short time before with a beautiful, worthy, and honored company of
Lords and gentlemen. After many discussions held on both sides, which
commemorated the many courtesies this excellent Lord had often shown him, and how dear...