Some notes on Zacara's musical styes

Abstract

<p>Historians have sometimes labelled the music of Antonio Zacara da Teramo 'strange', 'bizarre' and even 'mannerist.' Yet, many of the characteristics of Zacara's music exemplify the composer's extraordinary attention to text setting and a progressive awareness of his own musical identity. Textual and musical repetition emphasize significant words, establishing a precedent soon embraced by younger contemporary composers like Johannes Ciconia (c.1370-1412). A fondness for compound duple meter, descending chains of melodic thirds, prolonged syncopation, decorative small-note melodic figures and contrasting proportional rhythms are just some of the features that, when brought together, point to Zacara's distinctive musical style.</p>