ABSTRACT
FROM Florence and Mantua the centre of operatio aotivity passed for a time to Rome. where the reaction against the Florentine tendencies. already adumbrated in the Orl8O of Monteverdi and the Da/ne of Gagliano. asserts itself with increasing force and definiteness. In 1626 Domenico Mazzocchi produced his Oaterw. d' .Adone, in which a more polyphonic style is olearly discernible, partioularJy in the ohoral sections, which are of more frequent occurrence than in the work of any of his predecessors in the operatic field; and what he expressly designates as "il tedio del reoitativo" is greatly alleviated by the introduction of a considerable number of airs. Mazzocohi, incidentally, also wrote motets, masses, madrigals, and so forth, in the old polyphonic manner, for which he quite openly proclaimed his preference, saying that" il piu ingegnoso studio che ab.bia 10. musica e quello dei madrigali ".
