Ecclesiastical Tones versus Major-minor key. Juan Bermudo: performance Practice and Listening Habits in the 16th Century

Abstract

As it is well-known, the change of the tonal system, which introduced the emergence of the harmonic tonality, lies in the 16^th century. Until then, the diatonic tonal system was prevalent and based upon two theoretical pilars: firstly, upon the hexachord-system and secondly, upon the system of modes. One central aspect in Juan Bermudo’s treatise Declaración de instrumentos musicales (Osuna, 1555) is his observation that the musical practice of his time is in contradiction with these theoretical fundaments. With the aim to conciliate traditional theory and contemporary practice, he proposes some new concepts which are illustrated also by musical examples from Spanish composers.