Giovanni Antonio Terzi

Two books of music survive from this Italian lutenist and composer. It is clear that Terzi loved instrumental music but wrote a number of accompaniments for voice with two lutes. The compositions with two lute parts can be played as duets and the single lute parts could also be played as solos though indications given are for ensemble work. The intabulated music includes textual data but the vocal lines are absent. Works in the second volume of Terzi's compositions include pieces for solo lute, two lutes, four lutes, and lute and theorbo. Though little of the music is original Terzi was an artisan who was able to preserve the integrity of the compositions displaying a penchant for virtuostic passages. ~ Keith Johnson