Bicinium
A bicinium (plural bicinien ) is a mostly vocal composition for two voices, from which the duo and the duet developed. Today the term is also used more for the entire music of the Renaissance and Baroque , which is set for two voices or instruments.
While unaccompanied duets are rare in modern music, the older a cappella composition uses the bicinia quite often, especially in Germany , the Netherlands, and Italy , where the pedagogical value of the bicinia was quickly recognized.
The term bicinium appears for the first time in an essay by Jan z Lublina in 1540 . Bicinias were used as a teaching aid for music and for the psalms , with mostly two students performing, less often student and teacher. This is what Martin Luther describes , and so many bicinias are also part of the Protestant hymns .
Orlando di Lasso was a master of this genre . Erich Doflein published an anthology with easily playable bicinias for two instruments (violins, flutes) .
literature
- Ludwig Finscher: Bicinium. In: Ludwig Finscher (Hrsg.): The music in past and present . Second edition, subject part, volume 1 (Aachen - Bogen). Bärenreiter / Metzler, Kassel et al. 1994, ISBN 3-7618-1102-0 ( online edition , subscription required for full access)
Web links
- Bruce A. Bellingham: Bicinium. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bicinia. 20 two-part fantasies , Mainz 1960.