Il Nuovo Stile

Featuring

Vincent Dumestre
Guillemette Laurens
Le Poème Harmonique
Giovanni Battista Buonamente
Domenico Belli
Lorenzo Allegri

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Instruments

The advent of accompanied monody in Florence led to new instruments like the lirone, theorbo, and Spanish guitar joining traditional lutes, harps, and viols.

Historical Context

The Florentine court of the early 17th century saw immense popularity for lavish productions like pastorales and intermezzos, performed at palaces such as the Uffizi and Pitti.

Compositional Technique

Belli was a radical Florentine monodist, employing chromaticism, dissonance without preparation, and complex, free continuo structures in his compositions.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Belli's music, particularly his three surviving works published in 1616, reveals a somber and extravagant musician deeply preoccupied with suffering and death.

Compositional Technique

Belli prioritized expression over vocal beauty and the word over the vocal line, using musical licenses like superimposing a major third on a minor chord to convey emotion.

Composer Biography

Domenico Belli, a Florentine composer, worked his entire career in Florence and died there in May 1627.

Composition History

Belli was engaged by Cosimo II de' Medici at the Florentine court from September 1618, participating in the development of accompanied monody, which led to opera.