An analytical edition of Giovanni Kapsberger's 'Partite Sulla Folia' for chitarrone: Ornamentation, performance practices, and compositional structures in Kapsberger's folia variations

In 1604 Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger published the first known volume of chitarrone music, the Libro primo d'intavolatura di chitarone. This volume contains the largest set of variations based on the folia basso ostinato published up to 1604. This work, the Partite sulla Folia, builds upon the tradition of composing music based on improvisational forms. After discussing Kapsberger's biography and history and the theoretical history of the folia, I create an analytical edition of Kapsberger's Partite sulla Folia using period and modern analytical models to categorize the elements of his compositional style, in particular his use of ornamentation. Within the analysis, I include a transcription for the classical guitar that balances period performance practice with issues that are commonly encountered when transcribing and performing early music on modern instruments.