The Graces of Love

“The Graces of Love” (Le Gratie d’Amore) is the title of a book published in 1602 by Cesare Negri, the famous dance master of the Milan court in the Renaissance. It contains numerous dance tunes and precise descriptions of courtly dances. It also includes the tune Il bianco fior (The White Flower) on which the first movement of my piece is based. A vigorous dance in three-four, it leads to an acceleration and a sudden shift to an even meter towards the end. The second movement, calm and contemplative in character, features the tune Vaghe bellezze ... (Veiled Beauty …). Widely spaced melodic parts surround two solos during which the tune is varied anddeveloped. Finally, the third movement contains a Saltarello based on a tune by Vincenzo Galilei, the father of the famous astronomer, Galileo Galilei. It brings the work to a close with a hypnotic rhythm which is noble and virtuosic at the same time.