Isaac Vossius's De poematum cantu et viribus rhythmi, 1673: On the Music of Poetry and Power of Rhythm

Dr. Peter Martens provides the first complete edited English translation of Issac Vossiuss De poematum cantu et viribus rythmi, a late seventeenth-century work of Continental musical humanism. This treatise plays an important but poorly understood role in the continued development of rhythmopoeia, and is linked to John Drydens composition of his 1687 and 1697 St. Cecilia odes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Dr. Peter Martens presents the first comprehensive English translation and commentary on Isaac Vossius' De poematum cantu et viribus rythmi, a late seventeenth-century work of Continental musical humanism. What makes this treatise particularly intriguing is its publication in England and dedication to royalist Henry Bennett, Duke of Arlington. This treatise plays a significant but often overlooked role in the ongoing development of rhythmopoeia. Vossius builds upon the arguments of figures like Vincenzo Galilei and Marin Mersenne, seeking to establish a practical method for linking linguistic rhythm, music, and the passions. He proposes this approach based on ancient poetic feet, a concept that was revived in the service of emotional expression. While Vossius explicitly highlights the revival of poetic feet, musicologists are more familiar with this concept through Wolfgang Caspar Printz's Phrynis Mitilenaeus (1696) or Johann Mattheson's Der vollkommene Capellmeister (1739). De poematum cantu was frequently cited throughout the century following its publication, and no modern treatment of rhythmopoeia can be considered complete without a reference or brief excerpt from this work. While there is limited secondary literature focused on this treatise, what exists establishes a direct connection between it and John Dryden's composition of his St. Cecilia odes, as well as their musical settings by Giovanni Battista Draghi and Jeremiah Clarke, respectively. In the debate between Dean Mace and H. Neville Davies regarding the extent of Vossius' influence on these works, one can find a rich portrayal of the contentious issues surrounding text-setting and musical affect that occupied many writers in late-seventeenth-century England. A comprehensive translation and analysis of Vossius' own sources and musical influences provide valuable insights into his artistic vision and the broader context of late-seventeenth-century musical humanism.

Weight: 535g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032305936