Diego Ortiz's ricercares, particularly those "sopra canti piani," feature a bass line with instructions for accompaniment, which is a clear description of basso continuo practice.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Both Ganassi and Ortiz created their treatises with a didactic purpose, but their musical content is invaluable for understanding Renaissance music history.
Compositional Technique
The ricercares for solo viola by Ganassi, especially from his "Lettione seconda" treatise, are technically demanding, using extensive double stops and reaching high notes.
Cultural Impact
Ortiz's divisions on madrigals and canzonas became the sole Italian solo literature specifically dedicated to the viola da gamba.
Compositional Technique
Silvestro Ganassi's madrigal "Io vorei Dio d'amore" is a rare example from the 16th century where a vocal monody is accompanied solely by a viola da gamba.
Historical Context
The treatises by Ganassi and Ortiz are among the earliest musical collections dedicated entirely to the viola da gamba, and some of the first examples of music for a specific instrument.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ganassi, in his treatise, explicitly asked to avoid full chords, indicating his ideal sound was based on the sustained notes of the lira da braccio, not arpeggiated chords.
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