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Diego Pisador

Fantasía 07, del quinto tono sobre fa fa sol mi fa re

 

Libro de música para vihuela (1552), fol. 19v

pi038

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Source title Quinto tono sobre fa.fa.sol.mi.fa.re. Es la claue de cesolfaut/la tercera e[n] tercer traste.
Title in contents   Fantasia del quinto tono va la boz señalada de colorado.
Text incipit Fa sol mi fa re


Music

Category abstract

Genre fantasia

Fantasia type ImM

Mode 5

Voices 4

Length (compases) 117

Vihuela

Tuning G

Courses 6

Final VI/2

Highest I/7

Lowest VI/0

Difficulty not specified

Tempo not specified

Song Text

Language

Vocal notation texted cifras rojas solmised

Commentary

Rubric: “[Fantasia in the] fifth mode on fa fa sol mi fa re. The C clef is on the third [course] at the third fret.” This is another monothematic fantasia on the fa fa sol mi fa re [F–F–G–E–F–D] theme. It is supposedly in mode 5, but piece centres tonally around “A minor” on a vihuela in G, even though the theme might be considered to be in 5. The work opens with S/A – T/B voice pairs, but thereafter it is entirely a cantus firmus texture of successive thematic entries in all voices, with some bars of free polyphony between the thematic statements. It is cumbersome and awkward to play. Although the harmonization of the theme seems adequate, the work is poor in construction and music. There is only limited harmonic direction, or phrase shaping. The texture is dense and unapproachable. It has minimal harmonic variety and no rhythmic interest. The theme is only given in two transpositions (Orig + 1 other). There is no harmonic shape or structure and the cadences are generally poor other than final A minor type.