What does the term "prima prattica" refer to in music?

Prepare for the Graduate Music History Placement Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

The term "prima prattica," which translates as "first practice," refers to a style of composition in late Renaissance and early Baroque music where harmony dictates the structure and progression of the musical piece. This approach emphasizes the importance of tonal organization and harmonic progression, suggesting that the harmonic framework is foundational to the music. Composers working in this style focused on how the harmony shaped the melodic lines, contrasting with subsequent developments in music where melody gained greater autonomy or importance.

Understanding "prima prattica" also highlights its relationship to "second practice" or "stylus fantasticus," where the expressive capabilities of melody were prioritized, sometimes at the expense of strict adherence to harmonic rules. The focus on harmony dictating melody reveals a fundamental aspect of compositional technique during the period, reflecting the transition from Renaissance practices to those of the Baroque era and the evolving understanding of the relationship between melody and harmony.

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