ABSTRACT

Among the few writings of Marenzio that have survived we rarely find discussion of poetics or references to the literary culture of his time. In reality, the official culture of the Counter-Reformation viewed neo-Platonic doctrines with increasing suspicion. But the learned Zarlino, under the tutelage of the Platonic tradition, had arrived at the same conclusions: It remains now to be seen in what way one should accompany the harmonies to the verbal content. The Platonic tradition also provides a frame of reference for the concept of 'temperamento' that we encountered in our discussion of Tasso's La Cavaletta. Even if Marenzio did not cultivate a personal interest in Platonic philosophy, he could have entered into contact with the intellectuals in the service of Cardinale d'Este, and perhaps he borrowed from them the call for a profound musical renewal based on humanistic foundations.