A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Artusi, Giovanni

ARTUSI, Giovanni Maria, born at Bologna in the second half of the 16th century, was a canon of San Salvatore, Venice, a learned musician, and a conservative of the staunchest order, whose life was devoted to combatting the innovations of the then 'music of the future.' His 'Arte del contrapunto ridotto in tavole' was published in 1586 and '89 (translated into German by Frost), but his principal works are controversial, 'Delle imperfezioni delle musica moderna,' 1600 and 1603, directed against Monteverde's use of unprepared sevenths and ninths; 'Difesa ragionata della sentenze date di Ghisilino Dankerts'; 'Impresa del Zarlino,' 1604; 'Considerazione Musicali,' 1607. Artusi was active also as a composer; he published 'Canzonette' for four voices, and a 'Cantata Domino' of his will be found in the Vincenti collection dedicated to Schieti.

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