One of the very few collections of dances for ensemble to be printed in Italy.
It is interesting, perhaps, that in Kapsberger’s Libro quarto d’intavolatura di chitarone, there are similar types of dances, but arranged in suites consisting of uscita – ballo – gagliarda – corrente.
The present collection is unusual in that the composer incorporates the bass figures in the basso part, rather than printing a separate basso continuo part. In the sinfonie of the same year the same practice is adopted, to the extent that when there are two bass parts, each is figured. This suggests, perhaps, that Kapsberger had in mind a plucked instrument such as the chitarrone, possibly instead of a bowed bass instrument.
